Chelsea are consistently linked with the same types of targets, all of whom would suit the managerial targets. But not Conte, hinting at a fallback option.
Chelsea are, for lack of a better term, a hot mess. The technical director role has remained shamefully vacant since November. They and Antonio Conte have burned every bridge they had with each other over ambition and realism. And while desperately in need of reinforcements, none look to be arriving in short order.
But the one heart warming thing is that Chelsea do seem to have a vague idea of what they want. The top four managerial targets on rotation (Maurzio Sarri, Laurent Blanc, Luis Enrique, and Slavisa Jokanovic) are all cut from the same basic clothe. They all prefer attacking and possession based football, a style Roman Abramovich has allegedly desired for the better part of the last decade.
The rumored transfer targets also fit the style of all four of those managers. The Blues have been consistently linked with technically adept strikers, midfielders, wingers, and goal keepers. So why have Chelsea not gotten a deal over the line despite the window having been open for a few weeks? Most likely for the same reason that Antonio Conte is still employed; Chelsea need a fallback option.
Conte is not a manager who asks for technical players. Not that he is adverse to them, but he prefers hard working players over naturally talented ones. The targets Chelsea are going for could succeed under Conte, but few of them would be on his radar. These are targets set up for the four attacking managers Chelsea desires. Not for Conte.
So if Chelsea are hesitant to complete a transfer before they bring in a new manager, that hints at the board hedging their bets for once. If Sarri cannot be freed or Jokanovic will not depart newly promoted Fulham, Conte will be there. If Blanc gets tired of being the bridesmaid to Sarri or Enrique refuses to lower his wage demands, Conte will be there. And if Conte is still there, the rumored transfers are less than ideal or the Italian’s teams.
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The issue with using Conte as a fallback is twofold. On the one hand, Chelsea have already been courting other managers. Conte will know this and the players will know this. How will the team react to a manager who was nearly removed? How will Conte react to a club that tried to replace him?
The other issue is the transfer market. Those who wait in the window are likely to be left with scraps (see Chelsea in the last few windows). The current targets could still happen if Conte stays, but many of them will become unlikely in that case. To appease Conte and make life more pleasant for everyone, the board will need to stark looking for the Italian’s targets. By the time Chelsea come to the decision that they cannot replace Conte, it may be too late to strengthen the squad. That is not to mention the players that may force a move if Conte remains.
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Keeping Conte just in case makes sense on paper but falls apart in practice. His position is untenable at Chelsea. The board are not planning for the eventuality and are merely keeping it as a possibility. Chelsea may struggle next season regardless of who is manager, but starting the season with Conte would be the greatest risk the club could take.