Chelsea are reportedly weighing up a sensational return for former manager Antonio Conte, just weeks after dismissing Liam Rosenior less than four months into his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato, the west London club are considering bringing Conte back to the club — a move the publication itself describes as a "crazy idea in London." The report stops well short of confirmed talks, but the mere suggestion underlines the turbulence that has become synonymous with Chelsea under owners BlueCo.

Conte's first Chelsea chapter

Conte's original spell at Stamford Bridge ran from 2016 to 2018, and by most measures it was a success. He delivered the Premier League title in his debut season in 2016/17, then followed it with the FA Cup the following year. Yet a fifth-place finish and failure to secure Champions League qualification proved enough for the club to part ways with him, replacing him with fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri.

Since leaving Chelsea, Conte has built an impressive résumé. He claimed three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus between 2012 and 2014, before adding further Scudetti with Inter and Napoli — establishing himself as one of the most decorated managers in Italian football.

The Tottenham shadow

Between his Italian club assignments, Conte spent just under 18 months managing Tottenham Hotspur. That stint ended acrimoniously after he publicly criticised the club's ownership for a lack of ambition — a departure that mirrors the circumstances under which Enzo Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day, having delivered pointed criticism of the club's hierarchy.

The parallels are not lost on observers. Maresca and Conte are well acquainted, having played together at Juventus from 2000 to 2004, making any potential contact between the two over a Chelsea approach a talking point in itself.

BlueCo's managerial merry-go-round

Chelsea have faced sustained criticism for their approach to recruitment and management since BlueCo's takeover in 2022, with Rosenior's rapid dismissal the latest episode in a turbulent era. The club's willingness to revisit former managers reflects the lack of stability at board level.

CalcioMercato also reported that the Italian Football Federation is exploring the possibility of appointing Conte as the Azzurri's national team manager, adding a further dimension to his immediate future.

Whether Conte — given his experience at Tottenham and the pattern of complaints from departing Chelsea managers — would entertain a return to Stamford Bridge remains very much an open question.