WONDERFUL: Chelsea seal crucial deal for £183,000-a-week key man

Antonio Conte has become the highest-paid manager in Chelsea’s history after putting pen to paper on an improved two-year deal.

The 47-year-old, who guided The Blues to the 2016-17 Premier League title in his debut term at Stamford Bridge, will earn £9.5m-a-year according to the Evening Standard – which works out at around £182,692-a-week.

Conte’s side finished seven points clear of runners-up Tottenham Hotspur in the English top-flight standings last term, but missed out on the double after losing to Arsenal in the 2017 FA Cup final back in May.

Nevertheless, the former Juventus and Italy coach won a record-breaking 30 Premier League games during the campaign, and has been rewarded with improved financial terms, after only signing a three-year contract last summer.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

Conte told the club’s official website, “I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea.

“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.

“The Chelsea fans have given me so much support since I arrived here one year ago and it is important we continue to succeed together.”