Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is set to be appointed as as Massimiliano Allegri’s successor at Juventus.
Sarri has emerged as the Italian champions’ first choice to fill their vacant position and confidence is growing at the Serie AA giants that they can successfully agree a deal with Chelsea.
Sarri has two years left on his Ksh642 million-a-season (£5 million) Chelsea contract which he signed following his appointment last summer.
He would be in line for a pay rise should he seal a return to Italy having agreed in principle a three-year deal with Juventus worth around £6.2m-a-year (Ksh 796.1 million).
Juventus’ pursuit of Sarri will step up after this week’s European finals.
The Italian’s representatives are due for talks with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia over his future following Wednesday’s Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Juventus are also keeping one eye on Saturday’s Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino was among the other managers admired by Juventus but, as reported by Sportsmail on Saturday, Spurs chiefs are convinced he will be remaining in north London.
Sarri, who is ahead of Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi in Juve’s thoughts, meanwhile is seen as more obtainable.
The two clubs have a good relationship, highlighted in January by the agreement they managed to reach over a deal that saw Gonzalo Higuain move to Chelsea on loan.
Chelsea are open to letting Sarri leave providing a compensation deal is struck after a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, even though it could end with a third place finish, Carabao Cup final place and European trophy.
Juventus’ preference is to appoint an Italian with only Frenchman Didier Deschamps in recent times bucking the trend.
Sarri’s lack of trophy-winning pedigree was also believed to be an issue for some members of the Juventus hierarchy. He is yet to win his first trophy as a manager.
But the fact he remains highly thought of in Italy thanks to his work at previous club Napoli is set to prove more decisive.
Meanwhile Juventus have shown they are not afraid to turn to a coach who is not a serial winner having appointed Marcello Lippi and Antonio Conte before they had won any major honours and Allegri after just one Serie A title at Milan.
