Manager in talks with Chelsea, already has his first transfer target in Paul Pogba — report

Names such as Antonio Conte and Jorge Sampaoli might reportedly be on Chelsea's managerial short-list for the summer, but no one really has a clue yet about who will be the Blues' boss to start the next season. But surely, behind the scenes, squad building for the following period starts now; at least the managers linked with the Chelsea job might already have sights on a target for the next transfer window.

Along those lines, according to the Daily Mail, former Juventus and current Italy national team manager Antonio Conte will look to bring midfielder Paul Pogba to Stamford Bridge if he becomes the Chelsea manager. It is also reported that further talks between Conte and the club are set to take place in March, as the manager apparently rejected an approach from the Italian football association to extend his current deal that runs out after Euro 2016.

Conte is believed to be eager to return to return to club management once he finishes his international job with Italy. And while Paul Pogba would be Conte's first priority, there were also other names in his short-list such as midfielder Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid's defender José Giménez.  (Ed. note: If all that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.)

The Mail says that if Chelsea choose Conte as their manager, his appointment would be announced before the Euros this year, similar to what Manchester United did when they announced Louis van Gaal, then manager of The Netherlands, before the last World Cup in Brazil.

Out of the rumored four-man shortlist, Antonio Conte seems to be the most feasible name to become our next manager not only due to his contractual situation — although the jobless Jorge Sampaoli certainly has an advantage in that regard — but also because of his successful experience at top-level management. While his generally poor record in the Champions League might be worrisome, he's still one of the best names available who has a fair chance of building a squad and contending against a Manchester City lead by Pep Guardiola and a possible Manchester United team with José Mourinho at helm.