According to Sportitalia, the only coach who Milan are thinking about to replace Stefano Pioli next season is Antonio Conte.
There had been suggestions before the Christmas break that Pioli was genuinely on the verge of dismissal following a series of poor results, including the Champions League exit.
He seems to have turned things around in recent weeks, so is likely to remain until the end of the season, but the future remains wide open.
Sportitalia director Michele Criscitiello claims that the only real option on the cards for Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is Conte.
This would be a remarkable return to the other side of San Siro for the man who delivered the most recent Scudetto for Milan’s arch-rivals Inter.
Conte is seen as the only viable alternative, as Roberto De Zerbi does not seem ready to leave Brighton and Hove Albion, while Thiago Motta would be too much of a risk stepping up from Bologna to the Rossoneri.
As he always said when leaving Juventus and again Inter, Conte wants reinforcements, as he famously comments they ‘cannot go to a four-star restaurant’ without a large wad of cash in your pocket.
Conte’s salary would also be far higher than the one accepted by Pioli.
Milan are not the only club in Serie A chasing Conte, as he was also approached by Napoli and refused to accept the role mid-season following Rudi Garcia’s dismissal, but is on their wish-list for the summer.
#𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨: “𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧, 𝐜’𝐞̀ 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐮𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐨 𝐞𝐝 𝐞̀ 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞”🔴⚫️
— Sportitalia (@tvdellosport) January 3, 2024
Il direttore @MCriscitiello, ha trattato il tema della panchina in bilico per Stefano #Pioli, Antonio #Conte il solo nome per il futuro. pic.twitter.com/FSa86WtxMU
Conte at Napoli would be like Ancelotti at Napoli. A waste of time for the coaches.
Please god, no. Be brave and give Abate a chance!