Chelsea insist Antonio Conte is happy at Stamford Bridge despite reports there is a growing tension inside the club.
Conte won the Premier League title in his first season in charge, but the subject of his future has been continually raised in recent months.
Press Association Sport understands Conte, who is currently on holiday, is committed to Chelsea and will return for pre-season in the first week of July.
Chelsea are calm over the speculation, which they consider to be unfounded, and sources at the club say it is business as usual.
There have been suggestions Conte will demand an improved contract, 12 months into his existing three-year deal, and wants more of a say over transfers and the academy. Speculation that tension is growing between the Italian and Chelsea’s hierarchy over these matters has been dismissed.
It is said the manager has been left frustrated by the club’s lack of signings so far this summer given that their rivals have been very active.
Conte also reportedly wants better communication with owner Roman Abramovich and more control over the set-up within the club.
Conte could yet be rewarded for his first season in charge with a new deal – title-winning managers often receive improved terms – but is happy with the academy and transfer structure at Chelsea, preferring to focus on coaching the first team.
Despite winning the Premier League and finishing runners-up to Arsenal in the FA Cup, Conte and Chelsea’s hierarchy recognise the need to reinforce the squad ahead of a return to the Champions League in the forthcoming season.
Striker Diego Costa recently claimed Conte had sent him a text message that he was not part of his future plans and could leave this summer.
That prompted suggestions of friction between Conte and the Chelsea leadership, given Costa’s availability becoming public could reduce his value in the transfer market.
Conte, after winning the title last month, said his wife Elisabetta and daughter Vittoria would, as planned, be moving to London this summer.
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