I've heard Antonio Conte is in talks with Arsenal, he's leaving Chelsea - Kevin Whitcher

Kevin Whitcher has made the sensational claim on the onlinegooner blog this morning.

Whitcher has written a series of books on Arsenal and is a well-known source of Gunners content.

Although it is his latest staggering revelation that will send shockwaves through London.

“One interesting piece of information I have heard – which won’t come as too much of a surprise to anyone – is that this this is definitely Antonio Conte’s last season at Chelsea,” Whitcher wrote.

“But what is less well known is that Arsenal sounded out the then Juventus manager in 2014, when Arsene Wenger’s last but one contract was winding down.

“There is a belief that the manager would have called it a day if Arsenal had lost the FA Cup final to Hull, and certainly if they had failed to progress against Wigan in a semi-final that required a penalty shoot-out to progress.

“Amidst the euphoria of the final win, Wenger signed up for three more years, and Conte took the Italian national job for two seasons, before joining Chelsea after the 2016 Euros, and landing the Premier League in his debut campaign.

“Still, a channel of communication was established with Conte’s people and the Italian has expressed an interest in remaining in London after the end of the season.”

Whitcher adds that talks are already underway that could see the Italian move to the Emirates.

However, he claims Inter Milan remains Conte’s most likely next club.

He wrote: “There has been contact with Arsenal in recent weeks and he would still be open to take on the rebuilding job to return the club to the top table.

“His other (and most likely) destination is Milan to take the job at Inter.

“And the reason Conte is more likely to return to Italy is not that his family is based there (an arrangement that works for them, regardless of where Conte is working), but simply the unlikelihood of Arsene Wenger stepping down next summer before his contract has been fulfilled.”