Antonio Conte and Chelsea endured a frustrating title defence last season. The London-based outfit finished in the 5th spot, which only guarantees them a place in next year’s Europa League. Conte did manage to win the FA Cup against Manchester United, but his future continues to be doubtful.
An immensely emotional man, Conte is known for his charisma and energy off the pitch. His touchline antics have often helped the team and get going.
With the Italian’s future at the club an uncertainty, some of the players could also exit Stamford Bridge. One such name is Davide Zappacosta, who only made the move to Chelsea last year from Torino. His arrival was a relatively quiet one when compared to the other Chelsea signings.
The 26-year-old struggled to make an impact at the club and was restricted to a role off the bench for most of the season.
He only made 22 appearances and played second fiddle to Victor Moses, who had effectively nailed down the spot. The Italian only averaged 20 passes per match and that’s quite low for a wing-back playing in a 3-5-2 system. His performances were largely inconsistent and even when he did play well, he wasn’t provided adequate game time which affected his momentum.
Thus, with the summer transfer window in full swing, Chelsea could take this opportunity to cash in on the full-back. Inter Milan are keen on a move for the player and it would make sense for Zappacosta to leave the Blues.
Roman Abramovich should make the smart decision and sell Zappacosta. He could use those funds to bring in a new full-back, who can provide better competition and support to Victor Moses. If Chelsea are to make a strong comeback next year, they certainly need to solid additions to the squad. However, they must sanction a sale for Zappacosta before anything.