Incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has been told that he must get the club back in the top four of the Premier League next season.
The Blues endured a miserable campaign last year, with Jose Mourinho being sacked in December after a dismal start to the season.
With Guus Hiddink taking charge from the Christmas period onwards, they were able to finish in 10th place as the Dutchman brought a sense of stability to Stamford Bridge, but they still missed out on European football.
In turn, Conte has been given his mission statement, and he will look to get to work as soon as his job with Italy at Euro 2016 concludes.
The Azzurri have advanced to the last-16 of the tournament where they will face Spain, but Conte will be desperate to sign off with a trophy with the final taking place in Paris on July 10.
It is claimed that Chelsea officials have already informed him that they want to see the club in the title mix heading into the latter stages of the campaign, but the priority remains finishing in the top four and securing Champions League football, as noted by The Daily Mail.
Conte will undoubtedly be confident in his ability to deliver on such requests, although it will take some work in the summer transfer market to get his squad in the right shape.
It’s unclear who he will be able to bring in ahead of next season, but he will relish getting those already at his disposal playing at their best level and supplementing them with new faces that can add quality, work ethic and desire to the group.