Chelsea must be wary of new Antonio Conte contract
Recent reports claim that Chelsea are lining up a contract extension for Antonio Conte. However, the Blues must be wary of an excessive long-term deal.
With Chelsea taking the Premier League by storm, the tabloids have been targeting Antonio Conte for their latest batch of rumours. Reports claim that clubs like Inter Milan are considering making a move for the Italian, potentially taking advantage of his family situation to woo him away from West London.
As a result, Chelsea are apparently ready to act. Sky Sports believe that a contract extension could be signed before the FA Cup clash with Manchester United on Monday night.
"Chelsea boss Antonio Conte could sign a new deal ‘in a matter of days’ amid interest from other clubs, Sky sources understand…Chelsea want to keep Conte at all costs and talks could come to a head before their next game, an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Monday night."
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While Chelsea are justified in their desire to tie Conte down, they should also be cautious with regard to the length of the extension. There has been a history of matters taking a turn for the worse not long after significant contract extensions are signed. Alan Pardew at Newcastle United is just one example.
There is no denying that Conte has done a fantastic job since arriving. After a shaky start, his decisiveness in switching to a back three has propelled the Blues to the summit of the Premier League.
Hence, the club are justifiably concerned that he could be tempted by lucrative offers, especially from his homeland.
However, chucking money at Conte barely six months into his reign is not the smartest of moves. The boss still has two more seasons to run on his current deal and, given the fickle nature of the job, there is no guarantee that he will be able to see them out.
Extending his contract simply to ward off other teams may relieve some of the pressure people need to perform. Of course, managers need confidence from their board, but they also need to have the threat of sacking so that they continue to put 100% into their work.
Handing Conte a new and richer contract midway through the season goes against the meritocracy culture he is trying to create. It just seems that the board are rolling over too easy.
If the Blues go on to win the Premier League, as they are expected to, then Conte is well within his rights to use both that success and these other offers to strike a new deal. But this should be negotiated at the end of the season, not now.