Antonio Conte and Luis Enrique ’emerge as leading contenders’ to replace Spalletti as Napoli boss

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly targeted Antonio Conte and Luis Enrique to replace Luciano Spalletti, with the Serie A winning boss expected to leave the club.

Spalletti has admitted he could leave despite leading Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990 this season.

Speaking in a press conference after Napoli’s 3-1 win over Inter on Sunday, Spalletti said the situation had been “simmering for a long time” after he had worked “from morning to night.

It was recently reported that Spalletti is not in talks with De Laurentiis and negotiations for a new deal have been frozen.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sporthas identified De Laurentiis Conte and Luis Enrique as possible replacements in his bid to keep Napoli’s star players happy.

Antonio Conte and Luis Enrique are reportedly contenders to become Napoli’s next manager

Luciano Spalletti has suggested he could leave despite leading Napoli to the Serie A title

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly identified successors to Spalletti

The Napoli president has reportedly held talks with Conte about joining the club in the past, with the 53-year-old reportedly excited about the role.

Conte explosively left his previous role as Tottenham head coach in March.

The Italian’s departure followed an extraordinary diatribe about his team at a post-match press conference, where he questioned both the mentality of his players and the club’s ambition.

Conte’s reputation remains strong in Italy, where he has won Serie A four times as manager at Juventus and Inter Milan.

A complication surrounds his likely salary demands, with De Laurentiis reluctant to pay more than £6 million a year. Conte had reportedly earned £13 million annually at Tottenham Hotspur.

Luis Enrique is also seen as a key contender as the former Barcelona and Roma boss has been out of work since leaving his role as Spain national coach in December.

The 53-year-old is also a candidate for the vacant position of Tottenham head coach, where he could match Feyenoord manager Arne Slot in the race for the job.

Luis Enrique had been in talks to become Chelsea manager, but the Blues are planning to appoint former Spurs and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Spalletti, who has been in charge since 2021, had guided Napoli to a league title for the first time since 1990

Former Napoli boss Rafa Benitez has also been linked with a possible return to the club

Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini and Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano are also reportedly on De Laurentiis’ shortlist, as is former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Rafa Benitez, who was Napoli manager between 2013 and 2015, has also been linked with a return to the club.

Spalletti, who has been in charge of Napoli since 2021, still has a one-year contract.

The 64-year-old has had a long managerial career, the vast majority of which has been spent in Italy.

Napoli’s success this season marks the first time Spalletti has won the Serie A title.

He previously played for clubs such as Inter Milan, Roma, Udinese and Zenit Saint Petersburg.