Maurizio Sarri is set to be confirmed as the new head coach of Chelsea Football Club after Antonio Conte was finally relieved of his duties following two increasingly fractious years of being in charge.

Conte, who won the English Premier League(EPL) title and an FA cup in his two seasons at the club had been anticipating the axe to fall all summer but, with Chelsea’s negotiations over the compensation due to Napoli to secure Sarri having proved complicated, he had returned to his office last weekend.

The Italian even took training on Thursday morning before the confirmation of his sacking was made public.

 Although the Chelsea management is yet to comment on the dismissal, Conte said  farewell to his players on Thursday at lunchtime after training.

He had a year to run on his £9m-a-season deal which was renegotiated in the wake of the league championship triumph. Conte is likely to take a sabbatical while he considers his next move.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can strike an agreement to compensate the 48-year-old for the remainder of his deal.

Relations between Conte and the Chelsea hierarchy had always been difficult but had deteriorated markedly over a difficult second season with regular disagreements over the club’s transfer policy.

The Italian wanted a greater say over recruitment and would have sought a radical overhaul of the playing squad this summer following last term’s disappointing fifth-place finish in the EPL.

With this development, players such as the Brazilian duo of David Luiz and Willian may move on even as the club remains concerned that Belgium’s Eden Hazard might opt against signing a new long-term contract if Conte remained at the helm.

Sarri, who led Napoli to second place in the Italian Serie A last season and who has since been replaced in Naples by Carlo Ancellotti is expected to be confirmed as Conte’s replacement with progress having been made between his lawyers and those representing Napoli and Chelsea in the last two days.