According to reports on Sunday morning, Milan could turn to the available Antonio Conte in the summer if the club decide to part ways with current coach Stefano Pioli before then.
Pioli has found himself under increased pressure following Friday’s disappointing 2-2 draw against 20th-placed Salernitana. The Rossoneri have won just one of their last three matches in Serie A.
Having also been eliminated at the Champions League group stage, finishing in the top four has become even more of a necessity.
There is not expected to be any immediate upheaval in personnel in response to Saturday’s result. Pioli will definitely still be in charge after Christmas according to reports from Calciomercato.com, while La Gazzetta notes that Pioli could be kept on until the end of the season.
However, there is growing speculation that Pioli’s time at San Siro is coming to an end, and both outlets suggest that there could be a change in the dugout over the summer
If that were to be the case, both La Gazzetta and Calciomercato suggest that Conte is the best and most high-profile coach currently available on the market.
There is an expectation that Conte would command a hefty salary and would likely request some immediate and potentially expensive signings, but he would also be expected to fix Milan’s issues surrounding intensity and defensive resilience.
Another name, and likely a much cheaper option, that has been suggested is former right-back and current Primavera coach Ignazio Abate, who has impressed in his role with the U19s.