Maurizio Sarri has been thanked for his efforts at Napoli by president Aurelio De Laurentiis amid reports Carlo Ancelotti is set to take over at the club.
Napoli finished as Serie A runners-up in 2017-18 despite posting a club-record 91 points, Juventus winning the Scudetto for the seventh year in a row.
Sarri, linked with succeeding Antonio Conte at Chelsea, has refused to commit his future to Napoli and De Laurentiis suggested after the season-ending win over Crotone time was running out for the coach.
And in a social media message posted on Wednesday, De Laurentiis gave the clearest indication yet that there will be an imminent change of coach at Stadio San Paolo.
"I'd like to thank Maurizio Sarri for his valuable contribution to the Napoli cause," De Laurentiis wrote on Twitter.
"He brought joy and prestige to Napoli and fans all over the world with an entertaining brand of football that drew praise from all quarters. Well done, Maurizio."
Sarri, a tempestuous character who counts Empoli and Perugia among his former clubs, has also been touted as a candidate to replace Roberto Mancini at Russian Premier League side Zenit.
Reports emerged in Italy this week that Napoli have lined up Ancelotti as the successor to Sarri, who is set to leave the Partenopei despite three successful seasons.
Ancelotti was among the names linked with taking over Italy, but that job went to Mancini earlier this month.
The former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain coach is reportedly set to sign a two-year contract with Napoli, returning to management after his September sacking by Bayern Munich.
It has been claimed that Ancelotti will be paid €6million a year at Napoli, freeing up Sarri to move to another of the Italian's previous clubs, Chelsea, should they sack Conte.
Despite leading the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season in charge and following that up with FA Cup success last weekend, Conte is widely expected to leave after missing out on qualification for the Champions League.
However, Sarri is not believed to be the only name under consideration at Stamford Bridge, with coaches including Monaco's Leonardo Jardim and Luis Enrique in the mix.
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