Antonio Conte wants to bring a Manchester United player with him once his expected appointment as Napoli manager is confirmed, according to an Italian agent.
Conte agreed personal terms on a three-year deal to take over at the 2023 Serie A champions, as per Fabrizio Romano, with the final details to be completed before an official announcement.
Napoli finished in 10th place in the Serie A table this term, and employed three permanent managers during the campaign after the surprise departure of Luciano Spalletti.
Their nightmare title defence was effectively over just months into the season – and the club’s former coach Francesco Calzona has combined a short stint at the helm in Naples with his role as head coach of the Slovakia national team.
Now, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has turned to Conte, a four-time Serie A winner, to revive his club’s fortunes.
The Italian is set to return to management after a 13-month break following his departure from Tottenham.
And according to Italian agent Gigi Iacomino, speaking to local outlet Spazio Napoli, Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat is his key target to bolster his new midfield.
The Morocco international has endured a stop-start season at Old Trafford due to several injuries, but put in a near-perfect display in the FA Cup final as United beat Manchester City 2-1.
Erik ten Hag’s side have a £21 million option to sign the 27-year-old permanently this summer from Fiorentina, but it remains to be seen as to whether they will take that up.
Getty)
Meanwhile, Conte also wants to acquire some key defensive signings, including previous Manchester United target Kim Min-jae – who left Napoli last summer to join Bayern Munich, but has had a difficult season in Germany.
Iacomino said: “Conte would have proposed several names to De Laurentiis.
“He would be hunting heavy shots in defence. Conte would like at least one, if not two, of [Milan] Skriniar, Kim and [Alessandro] Buongiorno for his defensive department.”
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Topics: Antonio Conte, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Napoli, Manchester United, Transfers