Antonio Conte, a former Chelsea manager, has reportedly emerged as Real Madrid’s ‘top target’ to replace Julen Lopetegui, if he is sacked.
The reigning European champions have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions. Real slipped to seventh in the La Liga table, following Saturday’s 1-2 home defeat by Levante.
The club also set a record of going 7 hours without a goal, before Marcelo scored in the loss.
According to The Mirror, the former Italy manager is being tipped by the club’s hierarchy to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Italian is currently out of work after being axed by Chelsea over the summer.
He was said to have been considered for the job in the summer, but Madrid players preferred Lopetegui, who took over after he was sacked by the Spanish Football Federation.
The report said sources revealed that the Bernabeu will welcome Conte’s reputation for discipline.
Although it also suggests that Madrid’s plan for Conte could hamper plans to sign transfer target, Eden Hazard.
The Belgian struggled during the Italian’s second season at Stamford Bridge, in which he was replaced by Maurizio Sarri, after a poor Premier League title defence.
Other reports say other candidates tipped by the club for the job include, former player, Santiago Solari, Laurent Blanc, Michael Laudrup, Guti and possibly, Jose Mourinho.
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