According to the rather dubiously reliable Tutto Mercato Web, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has agreed a new three-year deal with the club. This essentially amounts to a one-year extension, as Conte’s original deal, signed last summer, was for three years as well, through the 2018-19 season. The new deal would now tie him to the club until 2020.
ESCLUSIVA TMW - #Conte e il #Chelsea, avanti insieme: c'è il rinnovo fino al 2020 https://t.co/5i4kgZ8kTG
— Tuttomercatoweb (@TuttoMercatoWeb) February 20, 2017
While this story is now starting to filter over to England as well, the rumor seems a bit premature considering that the previous stories regarding Conte’s new contract were predicated on him winning the Premier League this season. And while Chelsea are certainly odds-on favorites to win it — if you ask the sneaky Jose Mourinho, it’s already ours — nothing’s over until it’s actually over.
So, while an extension will make sense when it does arrive, it’s still a bit too early for it. Conte would probably be the first one to tell us, that right now, the only attention we should be paying is to the league and the FA Cup. There will be time aplenty in the summer to get new contracts and pay rises sorted out.
That said, it’s a lovely rumor, so thanks for that, TMW.