Wilkins claims Conte wants Pirlo as Chelsea assistant

Antonio Conte wants to replace outgoing Chelsea assistant Steve Holland with former pupil and Juventus star Andrea Pirlo, ex-England midfielder Ray Wilkins has claimed.

With Holland on the verge of joining Gareth Southgate's staff on England's national team, there is a vacancy to be filled.

Although Pirlo wrote in his autobiography that he "wouldn't bet a single cent on me becoming a manager," the 37-year-old, who is in the final year of his Major League Soccer contract with New York City FC, has a close relationship with Conte.

And Wilkins, who spent the best years of his career at Chelsea, can envision the two on the same bench next season.

"I know for a fact he has been around Stamford Bridge on a number of occasions this year. He's the one that Antonio Conte would like. He managed him at Juventus until he was 34," Wilkins told talkSPORT's Alan Brazil. "He is the one he will want to come in."

Conte has already asked for an Italian coach to take Holland's place, according to The Times' Matt Hughes, but Chelsea has maintained a policy of hiring British sidekicks through years of foreign managerial appointments under Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Wilkins himself served as an assistant to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink, and Carlo Ancelotti.

Conte, however, coerced the west London outfit to inject more of an Italian flavour. His backroom staff is comprised of his brother Gianluca, Angelo Alessio, Gianluca Spinelli, Paolo Bertelli, Julio Tous, and Tiberio Ancora, while Holland and fitness coach Chris Jones kept their positions.