Tottenham Hotspur have spoken to former Italy coach Antonio Conte and he is expected to replace sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo, according to multiple reports.
Conte is reported to be in London as details are finalised on a contract to June 2023
The English Premier League club had been in discussions with Conte during the summer before appointing Nuno as successor to Jose Mourinho.
However, the Portuguese lasted only four months of his two-year deal, his fate sealed after Saturday’s 3-0 home loss to Manchester United – the team’s fifth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.
Were Conte to take over the Italian would be returning to the Premier League just over three years after leaving Chelsea.
During Conte’s two years in charge of the Blues they won the league title in 2016-17 and the FA Cup the following season. He subsequently coached Inter Milan, departing during the summer after guiding them to the 2020-21 Serie A title.
He has also been linked with Newcastle United, who are managerless, and Manchester United, who have so far stuck by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Conte would be the fourth ex-Chelsea coach to take over at Spurs in the Premier League era following Glenn Hoddle, Andre Villa-Boas and Mourinho. None were successful.
Nuno , who had previously been at Wolverhampton Wanderers, was fired on Monday (AEDT). He had a bright start topping the Premier League standings in August after winning their opening three games including a defeat of champions Manchester City on the opening day.
But their season unravelled after defeats in four London derbies.
The 3-0 loss to United without a single shot on target had Spurs fans booing Nuno and chanting: “You don’t know what you’re doing”.
Spurs, Champions League finalists in 2019, have also struggled in the Europa Conference League – UEFA’s new third-tier competition.
They sit third in their group, behind Rennes and Vitesse Arnhem, with only one win from three games ahead of their next fixture against Vitesse on Thursday.
The 47-year-old Nuno is the third Premier League manager to lose his job since the start of the season after Watford sacked Xisco Munoz while Newcastle United parted ways with Steve Bruce following the Saudi-led takeover.
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