Sportitalia and Gazzetta dello Sport transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà claims Manchester United have made the first contact with Antonio Conte’s management, but both parties are still wary of doing a deal.
The approach had been in the air after a humiliating 5-0 Premier League home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, putting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the verge of dismissal.
Sky Sport Italia had earlier this evening reported that Manchester United hadn’t yet made contact with Conte or his entourage.
According to Pedullà, that has now changed, and the initial approach was made tonight.
It suggests Solskjaer’s departure is potentially imminent, but the same report also warns Manchester United have not yet decided to sack their manager.
He has a contract to June 2024 and would be very expensive to replace, as Conte commands a huge salary as well.
They could wait until the next break for international duty before making this move.
Fresh from winning the Serie A title with Inter, Conte is also hesitant to accept a job mid-season and wants guarantees on the direction the club is going in, with confirmed investment in the transfer market for players suited to his 3-5-2 formation.
Conte is not the only name on the list, as Zinedine Zidane is also available after leaving Real Madrid.
#Conte to #United: first contacts with his management. #Conte asks for certainties and not only a big engagement. Meeting for the future of #Solskjaer. No talks in this moment whit #Zidane
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) October 25, 2021
Board pls make ole sack now before is too late
As for conte we want him pls
Bring in General Allegri now. Pay the contract difference and the theatre of dreams will become the slowest show on earth. The Utd fans can witness slow ball at its finest. Ronaldo will be sold, Rashford turned into a deep lying midfielder and Pogba will be reborn as a right back.
At El CID … I agree. But it’s what the club wanted. They ventured out of the comfort zone and came back to what know … old, scared uninspiring football ..