The timing of Chelsea's announcement, via the London's club's official website, that manager Antonio Conte has signed a new two-year contract might have been slightly odd, given that it was made in the late evening Tuesday, but it didn't take long for the news to go viral on social media, where it was unanimously applauded by Blues supporters.

There had been growing concern in recent weeks that Conte -- frustrated perhaps by Chelsea's perceived struggles in the transfer market and having been courted for several months by Serie A giants Inter -- might be tempted to quit Stamford Bridge and return to Italy, but the 47-year old's putting pen to paper on an improved deal has eliminated the worry surrounding his possible departure.

Having originally signed a three-year deal, detractors might note that the new contract isn't an extension to Conte's terms of employment. Rather, it is simply short-term job security for the Italian, who is revered by Chelsea fans.

That's what really matters, and Conte acknowledged their support when he declared that he was "happy to have signed." The fact that the boss, who won the Premier League title in the first attempt, is clearly focused on "working even harder to stay at the top" can be seen only as a huge positive.

It pays to take life one season at a time in the Roman Abramovich era at the Bridge, and with Conte 100 percent confirmed to be at the helm for the forthcoming campaign, in which Chelsea will return to Champions League action, the club can now turn their attention to resolving the issue created by the situation surrounding Diego Costa, who has been told that he has no future at the club.

With the new season's kickoff less than a month away, the failure to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton leaves Conte short of options up front. Losing Lukaku, while annoying, perhaps came down to the fact that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was active in luring the Belgium international to Manchester United.

There are plenty of big names being linked with Chelsea, though, among them Sergio Aguero, Alexis Sanchez, Alvaro Morata, Andrea Belotti and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The question now is: "Will a deal for one of these players materialise?"

The recent signings of defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko might have slipped under the radar, given the noise over the futures of Conte and Costa, but both players are outstanding acquisitions to a squad that now looks to be one world-class striker away from being a formidable proposition.

Abramovich's board has work to do, but it appears to be getting the job done, despite facing some fierce criticism in recent weeks. The likelihood is that sooner rather than later the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle will be in place, and Conte will be ready to guide Chelsea to greater glory.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by MARK WORRALL

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