Chelsea target Juventus boss Antonio Conte

Chelsea are targeting Juventus manager Antonio Conte as a summer replacement for interim boss Rafael Benitez.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to offer a new deal to Benitez, and it is believed Conte is on his shortlist of potential new coaches.

Conte, currently in his second season at Juventus, has declared his willingness to work abroad.

"I've always said that my ambition is to coach abroad one day," Conte said. "I'm pleased to receive marks of esteem from important clubs, it means that we are working well.

"They make Juventus happy too, because it means that they chose well one-and-a-half years ago." Conte added: "At the moment I am just thinking about Juventus, to re-establish ourselves in Italy and to do well in Europe."

In his first season at the club, Conte guided Juventus through an undefeated campaign and to their 13th Scudetto, and despite serving a four-month ban at the beginning of this season for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal with previous club Siena, Juventus are seven points clear at the top of Serie A and are still in the Champions League.

Former Chelsea favourite Gianluca Vialli suggested last week that Conte is "probably at the top of Chelsea's wanted list".

Conte would replace Benitez, who has failed to inspire Chelsea since his appointment and will not be offered a new deal in the summer. The Blues are 19 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, though they still have hopes of success in the FA Cup and Europa League.