Chelsea's board know their time with manager Antonio Conte is coming to an end.

That's according to Duncan Castles, of the Daily Record, who made the claim on the Transfer Window Podcast.

Castles said: “The first time I wrote about Conte and the board over transfers was March 2017 when they were on their way to the title.

“I was first hearing from Conte's camp that he would not sign a new contract at Chelsea unless he got promises over proper recruitment and the players he thought he needed to win the Champions League.

"We know he signed the contract but he didn't extend so it was a messy compromise.

“I was told not long after that, that Conte regretted signing that and felt he should have left in the summer.

“The reason he didn't leave in the summer is because he would have had to pay the club a huge severance fee on that contract and he wanted to avoid that.

“Talking to people close to Conte, they are very clear it's over."