Antonio Conte would be sorry if Chelsea lost Steve Holland to England with Gareth Southgate set for talks

Chelsea’s Premier League title challenge may be affected by the Football Association trying to lure assistant first team coach Steve Holland to become permanent assistant to Gareth Southgate with England.

Southgate is expected to be confirmed as the full-time England boss at the end of the month and he wants Holland to go with him, and will hold formal talks with the FA on Monday.

As Standard Sport revealed yesterday, Chelsea won’t stand in Holland’s way if he wants to leave.

Conte appeared to suggest he will be sorry to see him go and said: “Steve Holland is a great professional and my assistant coach at Chelsea. I'm pleased to have him for his work and his commitment, for the man also.

“Steve, now, is focused for Chelsea and is work for the club and for us. I don't know the future of the FA, for now, but he's a great professional. In the past he worked with Southgate in the Under-21s and showed his quality.”