Antonio Conte nears Tottenham exit but one club already out of race to hire him

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Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte has held talks regarding a return to Inter Milan but the Serie A giants cannot afford to match the £15 million a year he earns in the Premier League, reporter Fabio Sabatini tells Tuttomercatoweb. 

The lack of funds available at the San Siro was one of the main reasons behind Conte’s Nerazzuri departure at the end of 2020/21.

And, with Inter’s well-publicised financial problems showing no signs of ending, Conte is highly unlikely to re-trace his old steps, the issues that led to his exit in the first place still very much an ongoing concern. 

“Conte gets £15 million net a year at Tottenham,” Sabatini explains. “Inter have no money. They can’t support such a strong coach. Inter want to rebuild, (so) he would be ideal, even with few top players.

“There had already been some contact some time ago. But Inter can’t do it.” 

Antonio Conte is on his way out of Tottenham Hotspur

Conte, who guided Inter Milan to their first Scudetto triumph since the Jose Mourinho era two years ago, could be sacked by Tottenham this week; that explosive post-Southampton press conference still ringing in Daniel Levy’s ears (The Telegraph). 

Conte, like old adversary Mourinho, will depart having failed to end a trophy drought which now stretches all the way back to 2008.  

The likes of Roberto de Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel and former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique have been mentioned as potential replacements for the blue-eyed battle-axe in North London.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, however, believes there is one standout candidate. Could Spurs do like London neighbours Crystal Palace and make their ‘new manager’ the old one. 

“I think (Brentford’s) Thomas Frank is an absolutely fantastic manager. But I think what Tottenham need, right now, is a lift for the fans. And I think (Mauricio) Pochettino is that,” O’Hara tells talkSPORT; the Argentine’s name ringing around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following that Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.