Report: Chelsea 'seriously considering' activating Sarri's £7.1M release clause

Chelsea is seriously entertaining the possibility of hiring Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri after holding talks with the 59-year-old's representative, according to the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson and Tom Collomosse.

The Blues are apparently willing to fork over the necessary £7.1 million to release Sarri from his contract before the end of May.

The interest appears to be mutual. La Gazzetta dello Sport's Mimmo Malfitano adds that Sarri - who learned to speak English while working as a banker in London - has told his assistants to begin picking up the language.

Sarri's relationship with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly soured as well. The two apparently disagree on several sporting fronts, with Sarri requesting more top-tier signings and De Laurentiis favouring emerging talent.

That has forced Napoli to begin compiling a short list of potential replacements for Sarri, according to Johnson and Collomosse, which includes Paris Saint-Germain's Unai Emery, Shakhtar Donetsk's Paulo Fonseca, and Sampdoria's Marco Giampaolo.

Sarri has gained admiring glances from a number of suitors, with Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan also posited as potential destinations. Despite bowing out of the Champions League group stage, Sarri's brand of relentless attacking football has captured the imagination of football supporters across Europe.

However, it's now believed Sarri is one of the favourites to replace Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. Conte's time in west London is expected to come to an end this summer after a reported breakdown in his relationship with the club's transfer board.

The news comes as Napoli's bid for a first Serie A title since 1990 is verging on collapse. Last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina left Partenopei with a four-point gap to overcome with just three matches remaining.