5 replacements for Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Chelsea are a club that, over the course of its recent history have shown a willingness to let managers go at the first signs of trouble and past accomplishments are usually not taken into consideration.

Antonio Conte guided the Blues to the Premier League title in his very first season at the club last season but it seems that his time at the club is coming to an end and he could soon meet the fate of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto di Matteo among several others.

Even before the season began, there were reports of discord between the powers that be at Chelsea and Conte, since he was not able to acquire the players that he actually wanted in the summer transfer window.

Now with Manchester City almost certain to win the title, Conte might be on his way out once the season ends and here we take a look at the 5 managers who could be his replacement at Stamford Bridge:

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#5 Marco Silva

Silva is destined for great things

Watford might be going through a bit of a poor run of results at the moment but their manager Marco Silva has been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League, ever since he first stepped foot in England in an unsuccessful bid to save a drowning Hull City from relegation in 2016-17.

Silva has so far worked on low budgets at both clubs but has been able to infuse a style of football that should be attractive to Chelsea. The Portuguese's sides are very well set up and defensively strong, while the attacking systems that he put in place both at Hull and now at Watford have attracted praise from many quarters.

However, the questions remain if he can make the step up to a super club and manage the far bigger budget that Chelsea will give him. On the other hand, Watford's finishing position in the league will also have a bearing on whether he is considered for the job.

Needless to say, it will be an uncharacteristic move from Chelsea to hire the Portuguese but at the same time, it cannot be denied that Silva is someone who could definitely turn into one of the top young managers in the years to come. Getting him in early could be a good thing after all.

#4 Ralph Hasenhuttl

Ralph Hasenhuttl has impressed with RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig have been a curious phenomenon of sorts in Germany's Bundesliga since it has been propped up by a corporation and that is completely different to the structure at most of the other clubs. In addition to that, the club which gained promotion to the Bundesliga last season, have given Germany's elite clubs a bloody nose and finished 2nd in the league last season.

All of this now brings our attention to their Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was appointed only last year and immediately made the team play a style of football that has seen him being regarded as the next big thing among the next generation of European managers.

Hasenhuttl has devised a pressing game at Leipzig that took the league by storm and the whole thing is focused on controlled pressing of the opposition when they are building up their attack. The Austrian is still only 50 years old and his name was linked to the Arsenal job previoisly.

However, it is believed that German giants Bayern Munich have also identified him as a potential target. He could be an excellent appointment for Chelsea if the club decide to part ways with Conte.

#3 Maurizio Sarri

Maurizio Sarri's Napoli have earned the plaudits this season

When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea, he had wanted the club to play attractive, free-flowing football but that had never quite come to pass. However, if Chelsea replaces Conte with his fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri, then he could have a coach who might make the club play a brand of dynamic attacking football that could take the Premier League by storm.

The Napoli manager is possibly one of the best managers in Europe at the moment, who has devised a style of play that has made the Naples based club an irresistible attacking force at times.

For instance, the game against Manchester City in the Champions League was perhaps one of the biggest exhibitions of attacking football in 2017 and although Napoli lost, they held their own. The patient build-up, followed by lightning-quick attacks has made the team the toast of Italy. With the possibility of recruiting better players at Chelsea, he could be an inspiring choice.

#2 Massimiliano Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri will relish a new challenge

During Antonio Conte's time at Juventus, the club could not really make their mark in the UEFA Champions League. It all changed, however, when Conte was replaced by Max Allegri in 2014 and in his very first season, he took the club to the final of the Champions League.

Allegri took Juventus to the final last season as well but like in 2015, he had to be content with the runners-up medal. He has led the Old Lady to the Serie A and the Coppa Italia title ever year since he took charge. The Italian is certainly among the best coaches in Europe at the moment and his exploits with Juventus has made him a highly sought after manager for the 'super clubs'.

His pragmatic tactical approach, coupled with intense pressing and a thorough understanding of the defensive shape of the team has made Juventus an extremely tough team to beat. Moreover, the fact that he has found such success at one of Italy's biggest clubs will make him the perfect candidate for Chelsea and the Italian will not find the job overwhelming for even one second.

#1 Diego Simeone

Simeone has been linked with a job in England for some time now

Atletico Madrid's Argentinian manager Diego Simeone has been among the best managers in Europe for close to 4 years now and has taken the perpetually under performing Madrid club to heights that it had hardly ever seen before.

Last season he took Atletico to the final of UEFA Champions League but they lost on penalties to bitter rivals Real Madrid. Simeone's attention to detail, his team building practices and having the ability to make the team play top class football despite losing players every other season has made him one of the managerial elites of Europe.

However, this season, Atletico have not been as good and now find themselves in the Europa League, after they could not get out of their group in the Champions League. In the league, they are currently at 2nd spot, 9 points behind Barcelona.

Simeone's contract at Atletico runs till 2020, however, it must be said that perhaps it is time that he took charge of a new club and a new project. Chelsea, London, the English Premier League and a bigger budget would certainly appeal to him if he decides to make the move.