La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as the ideal candidate to replace Luciano Spalletti at Napoli, but Vincenzo Italiano and Sergio Conceiçao are more realistic options.
The pink paper reported last week that Klopp was Aurelio De Laurentiis’ dream for 2023-24.
ADL has recently admitted that Spalletti’s successor at the Stadio Maradona will be a coach using a 4-3-3- system, but it’s unlikely to be Luis Enrique, who is waiting for offers from the Premier League.
With this in mind, La Gazzetta dello Sport’s journalist Alex Frosio wrote in Wednesday’s printed edition of the newspaper (page 21) that Klopp would be the best candidate for the role.
‘It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mirroring Mohamed Salah and Giovanni Di Lorenzo imitating Trent Alexander Arnold, but obviously, taking away Klopp from Kop’s hug would be a tough task, not to say impossible and the same goes for Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta,’ wrote Frosio.
Therefore, Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano seems a more credible candidate for the Partenopei, especially considering that the Tuscan tactician doesn’t only use a 4-3-3 system but also bases his style of play on high pressing and ball possession, just like Spalletti.
Looking outside the Serie A perimeter, Zinedine Zidane is another coach using a 4-3-3 system, while former River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo would be a ‘fascinating option’ for the Partenopei, noted Frosio.
Roger Schmidt, Julian Nagelsmann, Paulo Fonseca, Roberto De Zerbi and Conceiçao also use the same formation. The latest reports in Italy suggest ADL has already made contact with the ex-Inter and Lazio winger to check his availability. Currently under contract with Porto, the 48-year-old has an €18m release clause.