Title-winning Italian inks new deal to stave off Blues exit rumors

LONDON - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte signed a new two-year deal with the Premier League champion on Wednesday as the club moved to quash rumors of a rift that was reportedly pushing him close to an exit from Stamford Bridge.

The deal was confirmed as Conte, who guided the Blues to the title in his first season last term, prepares for a pre-season tour of Asia, which will kick off against Arsenal at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium on Saturday.

"I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea," Conte said in a statement on Chelsea's website.

"We worked extremely hard in our first year to achieve something amazing, which I am very proud of. Now we must work even harder to stay at the top."

No terms of the deal were disclosed, but English media reported the new contract improves the terms of the remaining two years left on the three-year deal Conte signed when he arrived at Stamford Bridge last year.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said the contract rewarded the "incredible success" Chelsea enjoyed in Conte's first season.

"This new contract reflects our belief that he can continue to deliver results both domestically and as we return to European competition in the Champions League," Granovskaia said.

"Since arriving in west London, the 47-year-old Italian's passion, tactical acumen and winning mentality have endeared him to Chelsea supporters, and we look forward to further triumphs with Antonio at the helm."

Conte's coaching staff has been augmented by the arrival of two more Italians, with Paolo Vanoli joining as an assistant to the first-team head coach and Davide Mazzotta drafted in to specialize on player analysis.

The contract boost for Conte comes amid reports the Italian has grown frustrated with Chelsea's inability to reinforce its title-winning squad.

Chelsea had long been linked with a move for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, but the Belgium international opted for Manchester United over a return to the Blues.

Reported interest in Juventus duo Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro failed to come to fruition, although the Blues acquired midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Moncao and defender Antonio Rudger from Roma.

Chelsea's top brass, meanwhile, were reportedly unhappy that Conte told striker Diego Costa he does not feature in his plans - potentially weakening the club's bargaining position in any potential negotiations.

Costa has been linked with a move to China although his preference is a return to Atletico Madrid, despite the Spanish club being banned from signing new players until the new year.

There appears little way back for him at Chelsea - in an Instagram Live video on Sunday, he filmed himself partying in an Atletico shirt and told Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas to "give Conte a hug".

Hammer Hart

Meanwhile, England goalkeeper Joe Hart has joined West Ham on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

The 30-year-old spent last season on loan with Torino after Pep Guardiola took over as City boss last year and Hart was told once again he was not in the Spaniard's plans.

West Ham is believed to be paying a loan fee of around $5.9 million for Hart and the deal does not include a buy-back option at the end of the 2017-18 season. City has agreed to contribute towards Hart's wages.

"It's important for me to play football and to get the opportunity to come here and play is absolutely awesome," the ex-Shrewsbury stopper told West Ham's TV channel.

"To be playing in the Premier League for a big club like West Ham, I'm really looking forward to the season.

"We've moved into London Stadium and we've got Slaven (Bilic) in charge who I've spoken to and I've always enjoyed as a manager.

"He obviously did a good job with Croatia and he's doing a good job here, so to get the opportunity to come here, it wasn't really a hard decision."

Hart, whose City contract expires in 2019, is expected to join his new teammates on a preseason tour of Austria.

Szczesny switch

Another keeper on the move is Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny, with the Poland international on the brink of sealing a transfer to Juventus.

The Italian champion confirmed on Tuesday that Szczesny was in Turin for a medical ahead of a move worth up to $17.4 million.

The 27-year-old, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Roma, will likely serve as back-up to veteran Italy international Gianluigi Buffon.

Szczesny last played for Arsenal in its 2015 FA Cup final victory over Aston Villa. He was a regular for Roma, playing 38 Serie A games last season.

He made his Arsenal debut in September 2009, going on to make 132 appearances for the Gunners.

Juve is also expected to conclude a $14 million deal to sign Italy defender Mattia De Sciglio from AC Milan, with the 24-year-old due in Turin on Wednesday, according to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

Juventus last week brought in Brazilian winger Douglas Costa on loan from Bayern Munich, while agreeing to sell Bonucci to AC Milan for an estimated $46 million.

Agence France-Presse