Chelsea have been dealt a major blow in their search for a new manager as Maurizio Sarri has reportedly agreed to stay on at Napoli for another year.
The 59-year-old has previously suggested that he will consider stepping down at the end of the season, opening the door for a move to the Premier League.
Sarri, who has also been linked with the Arsenal job, fell just short of ending Juventus's stranglehold on Italian football this term as his Napoli side are now guaranteed to finish second to the champions.
According to Corriere dello Sport, however, the former Sorrento and Empoli chief will snub any interest from Chelsea by instead putting pen to paper on a one-year contract extension at the Stadio San Paolo, running through until 2021 and rumoured to be worth £3.5m a year.
Chelsea have been tipped to sack current boss Antonio Conte in the next week, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Daniel Lewis
