Antonio Conte ‘could reach agreement to become Napoli coach this weekend’ as club’s interest in Europa League-winning manager Gian Piero Gasperini cools ‘amid new Atalanta deal “.

Antonio Conte is set to be named Napoli head coach and a deal could be confirmed this weekend, according to reports in Italy.

The former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager has been heavily linked with the role at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since April amid a torrid season for the 2023-24 Scudetto winners.

Napoli’s dismal title defense saw the team play under three different head coaches following the departure of Serie A winning coach Luciano Spalletti, with his replacement Rudi Garcia lasting just six months before his dismissal in November.

His successor Walter Mazzarri was given just a seven-month contract in his second spell at the club ten years after his first term, but was sacked after four months and replaced in February by Francesco Calzona.

But as the season draws to a close, Napoli have stepped up their search for a head coach to start the next campaign again – and may have opted for the highly decorated Conte.

The 2023-24 Scudetto winners have gone through three managers this term, starting with Rudi Garcia (left) before being replaced by Walter Mazzarri (right).

Francesco Calzona was appointed in February but is not expected to stay in the position

According to several Italian media outlets, including Sky Sport Italia, Conte beat out another club target, Europa League-winning manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

Gasperini won the first major trophy of his career on Wednesday night as his Atalanta side demolished Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin, handing Xabi Alonso’s dazzling side the first defeat of their 2023-24 campaign.

The 66-year-old has openly flirted with a move away from Bergamo and said, when asked about speculation linking him with the Napoli role, that he was not resistant to being tempted by a new role.

“We are celebrating tonight, I will speak to the president tomorrow. We’ll see,” Gasperini said when asked if he would stay in his current role next season.

“I find myself in a strange situation, sort of like I’m married and have kids, but I meet an absolutely beautiful woman.

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But Atalanta are reportedly keen to hang on to their manager, who has been in the role since 2016, and talks to extend his contract on Friday are said to have gone very well.

As well as winning Europe’s second division club competition, Atalanta also finished fourth in Serie A after an impressive season.

Napoli also have a long-term interest in Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Third candidate Stefano Pioli is now a free agent after being sacked by AC Milan on Friday.

Napoli are thought to be somewhat put off by the force it will take to snatch Gasperini from their northern Italian rivals – while Conte has been a free agent since leaving Tottenham in March 2023.

As such, negotiations have intensified and Conte is even said to be considering a pay cut in a bid to seal the deal.

The third coach under consideration, Stefano Pioli, is also a free agent, having been sacked by AC Milan on Friday after five years at the club.

Despite finishing second in Serie A, Milan are currently 19 points behind hated rivals Inter heading into the final day of the season.