Former Wales international Craig Bellamy has claimed that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers would be the ideal replacement for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian remains in charge at Stamford Bridge, but rumours have rumbled since the summer about his long-term future, despite the fact that he signed a new contract during that time.

As it stands, Chelsea are third in the Premier League table, but the title is seemingly out of reach given that Manchester City are 14 points ahead.

The club are still in with a chance of winning the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as the EFL Cup after making it into a semi-final tie against Arsenal.

In Scotland, Rodgers has overseen the treble at Celtic and until recently had coached a team that had not been beaten domestically in 69 games.

Bellamy believes that the Northern Irishman, who coached Swansea City and then Liverpool in the Premier League, would be a good fit at Chelsea.

The Welshman told Sky Sports:

"If I was Chelsea, and it doesn't look like the relationship is great there [with Conte], if he goes at the end of the year. Me personally, I've spent all this money on youth players and I want to start seeing them going through into the first team.

"There would be no better manager out there for me than Brendan Rodgers. He's been at Chelsea's youth system, he's been part of the football club, he's helped develop a lot of players.

"He plays good football, an attractive style of football, which would please [Roman] Abramovich. But also with the experience now of managing, could he go to a team like Chelsea and bring in young players and develop that football team over the next couple of years For me, he could."

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/PL25(14-15).mp4