Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici views Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini as his top target to replace Antonio Conte. But he faces a frustrating pursuit for the Italian coach.
That is according to CalcioMercatoWeb, which reports Paratici is already exploring options to replace Conte. The Spurs boss is out of contract at the end of the campaign and is yet to quell unrest over his future. Instead, his position at the team is considered ‘very doubtful’.
Portsmouth visit a Tottenham squad in the FA Cup third round on Saturday afternoon that is struggling for consistency in the Premier League. Conte’s side have not won in successive games since October 15. They have also won just three of their last eight while losing four.
So, Conte is now considering whether or not to commit to another contract at Tottenham or to move on. He gives great thought to his future amid the north London club’s troubled spell. The Italian also gives thought to returning to Serie A at Juventus or Inter Milan again.
His great goal, however, would be another chance at managing the Italian national squad. Conte oversaw the Azzurri from August 2014 to June 2016 before his first spell in England with Chelsea. But the 53-year-old’s final game was a quarter-final defeat during Euro 2016.
Paratici wants Atalanta boss Gasperini to replace Conte at Tottenham
Should Conte decide to leave Tottenham in 2023, Paratici views Atalanta boss Gasperini as his top target to replace him. But the 64-year-old would not be an easy target to convince to join Spurs. He rejected the chance to take over the Premier League team a few years ago.
Gasperini was not interested in leaving his Serie A side at the time and has not had a clear change of heart since. Paratici, then, would need to put forward a very convincing case to gain his services. The Grugliasco-born manager has been in charge of La Dea since 2016.
Atalanta currently sit seventh in Serie A and are playing their first term without European football since Gasperini’s maiden campaign. He led the club into the Champions League in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 after three-straight seasons finishing third in the top-flight.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was also full of praise for Gasperini’s Atalanta after he faced them with Paris Saint-Germain. The German and Italian have only met once in their careers back in August 2020. PSG beat La Dea 2-1 in the quarter-finals in a one-legged tie.
“When we played against them, it was clear there was something special,” he told Corriere Della Sera back in 2021. “Perhaps some aspect of his beliefs go against our cornerstones.
“But he has been successful and, therefore, deserves only compliments for what he is doing. Other than that, he’s a nice person, very humble.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
