Paper talk: Mirror claim Conte ‘will battle with Chelsea’ over £9m

The stories in Thursday’s newspapers involving the area’s clubs…

There continues to be speculation over the future of Antonio Conte and who might replace him as Chelsea boss.

Chelsea have been widely tipped to replace the Italian this summer, when he will have a year of his contract at Stamford Bridge remaining.

There have recently been reports that the Blues are hoping Conte lands a job at another top club so they do not have to pay up the final year of his contract – reported to be worth £9m – were they to sack him.

And the Daily Mirror declare that “Conte is ready to go into battle with Chelsea” over the final year of his deal and is making it clear that he will not quit.

A number of managers have been touted as a potential replacement for Conte, including Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri, Max Allegri of Juventus and ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.

The Mirror claim Sarri wants the job but that “it may not be an easy switch because Conte is unlikely to go quietly.”

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion are set to make an approach for Brentford boss Dean Smith, the Daily Mail say.

The newspaper say Albion, who are searching for a new manager, are interested in Smith and Michael Appleton, who is currently assistant boss at Leicester and has previously played for and coached at West Brom.

The Mail say Brentford and Leicester will receive official approaches from Albion.

Smith, who has been in charge at Griffin Park since 2015, is said to have impressed with his work at Brentford and his previous club Walsall.