Antonio Conte to-do list at Chelsea: Terry future, rejuvenate Hazard, loan system

By James Walker-Roberts

Image: What does the incoming Blues boss have to fix?

Chelsea have confirmed that Antonio Conte will be their next permanent manager, taking over in the summer after Italy's Euro 2016 campaign.

He will take charge of a side likely to be without European football next season and seemingly with plenty of issues to resolve.

We take a look at five things on the Italian's to-do list when he arrives at Stamford Bridge, and before...

Will Conte fit?

What should we expect from the new Chelsea boss?

Resolve John Terry's future

Chelsea look set to lose one of their most experienced and decorated players in the summer unless John Terry signs a new deal. The 35-year-old said in January that he will be leaving Stamford Bridge when his current contract expires as the club is 'moving in a different direction.'

Advertisement

But is that the direction Conte wants to go? Speaking on Sky Sports in February, Graeme Souness says he cannot imagine why the club would not want Terry to stay.

Image: John Terry is out of contract in the summer

"I cannot believe that John Terry will not be here next year," Souness said. "I can't think of one reason why you wouldn't want him here. You can go and spend all the money you want, 50 or 60 million pounds, you can buy the very best centre-half out there, but he is not going to come into the Chelsea dressing room and have the same influence. It would be a mistake at every level for me if you get rid of John Terry."

Also See:

There have been reports that Conte is open to keeping Terry and former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins told Sky Sports News HQ that he thinks the Italian 'will want to use his experience and pick his brains'.

However, if he does depart then it would leave a huge hole for Conte to fill. 

Chelsea appoint Conte

Chelsea have confirmed Antonio Conte will become their new head coach

Help Hazard get back to his best

It's hard to remember many other players whose level has nosedived so dramatically in such a short space of time. From PFA Player of the Year in 2014/15, Eden Hazard has struggled badly for form and fitness this season and is yet to score a Premier League goal.

He also appears to have been tempted by a move away from Stamford Bridge, saying in February that it would be hard to turn down a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Image: Eden Hazard has struggled for form and fitness this season

Although interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink thinks Hazard can return to his best form, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson thinks he should be sold if the price is right.

"I'd drop him off if I could get £60m for him. He's had one good year and this season he's been bordering on atrocious. If you can get the money, you'd take it all day long. You don't know if he will turn out to be a one-season wonder and you can't take that chance."

With a contract until 2020, it seems unlikely that Chelsea will let the Belgian leave unless they receive a substantial offer. Instead it will be down to Conte to find a way of rejuvenating the 25-year-old and transforming him into one of the club's top players again.

Get a grip on transfer policy

Jose Mourinho might have taken the fall for Chelsea's poor season, but the Portuguese could point to a lack of support in the transfer window as one of the reasons for the below-par results.

While signings were made, none of Radamel Falcao, Abdul Rahman Baba, Papy Djilobodji or Pedro have hit the mark. The same could be said of Alexandre Pato, who joined on loan in January and only made his debut at the weekend.

Who should Chelsea sell?

Paul Merson looks at which players Chelsea should keep

It is clear that significant changes are needed, but will Conte be able to overhaul the squad without the lure of European football next season?

Sky in Italy reporter Augusto de Bartolo thinks the former Juventus boss will make 'three or four' additions, among them potentially Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan.

"At Juventus, to protect Paul Pogba he had Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio or Arturo Vidal. For this reason, I think Conte will try to buy a player that will be useful for that. It could be Radja Nainggolan, from AS Roma, who Conte admires," says De Bartolo.

Image: Will Conte look to sign Radja Nainggolan?

Conte will also need to address the striking issues. While Diego Costa's dip in form could not be foreseen, Chelsea should have had better back-ups in place than Loic Remy and Falcao.

"They need to buy another forward in the summer because it can't just be Costa," says Merson.

Give youth a chance

It might not be a short-term fix, but giving more youngsters more of a chance might prevent Chelsea losing talented players as they did with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne, both of whom are excelling after leaving Stamford Bridge due to a lack of opportunities.

Certainly Conte will have plenty of players to work with. Chelsea have a host of youngsters out on loan around Europe as well as the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Matt Miazga and Bertrand Traore already in the squad.

Image: Will Ruben Loftus-Cheek get a chance under Conte?

How the Italian balances development with signings could be key to Chelsea's future. At least by the time he arrives he might have more of an idea what he is working with, as Hiddink has said he plans to give some of the youngsters more first-team minutes before the end of the season.

That could help the Italian to decide who stays at Stamford Bridge and who heads out on loan.

Look at all the loans

With over 30 players out on loan, Conte will have decisions aplenty to make in the summer.

Will Patrick Bamford be sent out on a sixth loan? Will Juan Cuadrado be recalled from Juventus? Is Michael Hector ready to play Premier League football? Mohamed Salah looks unlikely to return from Italy but Victor Moses' future will need to be resolved as it is understood West Ham will not be turning his loan move into a permanent deal.

Image: Victor Moses looks set to return from his season-long loan at West Ham

Like with the youngsters already at the club, it will be a balancing act for Conte, but one thing is for sure: Chelsea can do without bringing in any more loan signings themselves.

Perhaps seeing how Falcao and Pato have flopped will bring about a shift in the Blues' transfer policy.

Outbrain