Marco Silva has been linked with a shock move to Chelsea as pressure continues to mount on Antonio Conte.

The Blues are said to be sounding out options to replace the under fire Italian until the end of the season should they opt to pull the plug on Conte’s reign.

Chelsea are growing weary with Conte’s constant complaints over a lack of backing in the transfer market and it is believed one more bad result could signal the end for Conte.

Silva is said to be in the running to take over the Stamford Bridge hot seat in a move which would allow Chelsea time to identify a long-term replacement.

Such a move would come as a shock after the Portuguese’s dismal Watford tenure ended after just 26 games in January.

The Hornets won just one of Silva’s last 12 Premier League games in charge – a run which undermined a strong start to the season and saw Watford slip towards the drop zone.

Silva’s desire to join Everton after the Toffees made an autumn approach for his services were, Watford claimed, at the heart of the downturn in form.