Chelsea news: Antonio Conte to hold talks for Italy job in London, reveals Azzurri chief

Italy are currently without a manager following the sacking of Giampiero Ventura who failed to secure qualification for the World Cup.

A host of managers are said to be in contention for the job, including Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte.

And Italy vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta has admitted he will be travelling to London soon to discuss the role with the Chelsea boss.

“I’ll go to London to talk to Antonio Conte and Carlo Ancelotti, we won’t have to wait too long,” he told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“We have the best researchers, best chiefs and also the best coaches in the world.

“We can’t make mistakes. I think I’ll have to move quickly. I’ll go to London to talk to Conte. Ancelotti’s also there.

“Mancini? I know him well. I’ve read that he’s become available, but he’s not the only one that I’ll talk to.

“Until a few years ago, I thought the manager was only a selector. Then I saw Conte at work in France and realised you could also choose someone opposite to that description.

“Antonio did a fantastic job at the Euros. 

“In short, he can also coach the national team. We won’t have to wait too long, but we have to do things properly.

“Our objective is to tear off a page that has done a lot of harm to all of us, even if it wasn’t only Ventura’s fault, and then bring the Azzurri back up to where they deserve to be for their history and tradition."

Conte, however, has remained coy about the Italy job and has insisted his focus remains Chelsea where he is under contract until 2019.

“My intention, my will, my desire is to respect this contract,” he said.

“Costacurta is a friend, but maybe he forgot that I still have 18 months of contract with Chelsea.”