Marco Silva lined up as shock replacement for Conte at Chelsea

According to The Times (subscription), Chelsea are considering the option of bringing in a caretaker manager until the end of the season should the team continue to falter under Antonio Conte.

It is believed that the reigning Premier League champions are willing to give the Italian until the end of the season but his future beyond that is uncertain to say the least, and if the club’s hopes of a top four finish continue to take a hit the former Juventus boss may face the sack before May.

After heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Watford, the pressure is on Conte to keep his job, with a crucial month ahead as the team prepares to face Barcelona in the Champions League.

If things don’t take a turn for the better it is reported that former Hull and Watford boss Marco Silva could step in to take the reigns on a caretaker basis, with the Portuguese hoping to prove his worth at a higher level.

Chelsea host West Brom before a trip to face their former boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford at the end of the month but it remains to be seen if Conte will be in the opposing dugout following the war of words between the two earlier this season.