Tuttomercato journalist Luca Marchetti has said that Antonio Conte has been earmarked as the prime managerial candidate for Inter Milan ahead of the forthcoming campaign. The Nerazzurri have endured a stop-start season under Luciano Spalletti this term, but they are still on course to finish in the top four with seven games remaining.

In a report covered by Tuttosport, Marchetti revealed that the Nerazzurri are the leading candidates to pursue the former Chelsea man, who is currently out of work. He added that the Italian’s former association with CEO Beppe Marotta at Juventus could prove advantageous in the attempt to pursue his signature, he said: “Inter is talked about a lot and surely the fact that Conte is free to decide what kind of project to embrace is an advantage for them. They have a double advantage over others if you consider that Marotta and him have already worked and won together.”

Despite this, “Marchetti suggested that the deal may not be certain, given the club’s hierarchy may decide on the managerial position based on the Nerazzurri’s finish to the campaign“, he added: “In the meantime, “the change of coach“ will depend on how the season ends which at this moment seems to be in the Nerazzurri’s hands.”

At the moment, the San Siro giants are five points ahead of fifth-placed Atalanta in the race for the Champions League places and this has reduced some of the pressure on the head of manager Luciano Spalletti. However, the club still have a difficult schedule ahead with games against Roma, Napoli and Juventus to come, and a tough end to the campaign may put Spalletti under the risk of losing his job. Conte has been out of duty since the dismissal from Chelsea last summer and during his period, he has remained quiet regarding his next managerial challenge.