With Carlo Ancelotti no longer at the helm, Everton are unexpectedly searching for a new manager.
A number of coaches have been in the frame but the Toffees haven’t managed to conclude a deal just yet.
What’s the word?
Former Wolves boss Nuno Santo has been in talks with the club over the last two weeks and following a successful interview, he’d emerged as the favourite.
However, with discussions now stalling, Everton are beginning to turn their attentions elsewhere.
In a major update on the situation provided by Football Insider, it looks like they have now made contact with Antonio Conte about the position.
It’s not known at this point whether the Italian has any interest in succeeding Ancelotti but he is one of the candidates that Everton are seemingly talking to.
Bad news for Nuno
If the Toffees hierarchy do have a genuine interest in Conte then it should be bad news for all of the fellow candidates, including Santo.
That’s because the former Inter Milan boss has one of the best CVs in the modern game.
Bill Kenwright wanted to hire David Moyes but after he penned new terms at West Ham, it’s Conte who should be the best viable candidate for the Merseyside outfit.
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The 51-year-old recently won Serie A with Inter Milan and has enjoyed enormous success in England previously. His meticulous style and flexibility in terms of tactics really came across as he engineered a Premier league title win and an FA Cup victory.
When Conte first came to Chelsea, he endured a mixed period. They lost to Liverpool and were then battered by Arsenal using 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 formations.
However, he changed the formation to a three-man defence, a tweak that would eventually see them win the title. It was a turning point for the entire division as a number of sides looked towards a similar defensive shape.
Nuno is well versed with a three-man defence as well but his flexibility isn’t as seamless as Conte’s.
Wolves were promoted with a three-back but once the Portuguese attempted to make them more attacking with a four-man backline, things didn’t go to plan.
Wolves kept just two clean sheets in 14 league matches from October to January as the four-man backline ended up costing the Old Gold.
Conte’s accomplishments speak for themselves but in the words of Pep Guardiola, the 51-year-old is a “tactical master.”
There should only really be one candidate in mind here for Farhad Moshiri and co and if Santo's stalling opens the door for Everton to hire Conte, then he'll only have himself to blame if he finds himself not managing in the Premier League next season.