AC Milan are reportedly lining up an approach for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte amid speculation over their current boss Vincenzo Montella.
Milan's 2-0 win away to Sassuolo on Sunday is understood to have given Montella a stay of execution at San Siro, but the club's hierarchy are known to be disappointed with the team's performance so far this season.
Milan currently sit seventh in the Serie A table having lost five league games already this term, leaving them nine points off the top four and 13 adrift of leaders Napoli.
The Rossoneri are understood to have held a long-standing interest in Conte, who has seen his own future at Chelsea come under scrutiny this season despite leading the club to the Premier League title in record-breaking style last term.
Disagreements with members of the board and reports of player unrest have contributed to a tumultuous start to the campaign for the Blues, who find themselves nine points off Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday helped to strengthen the Italian's position, but his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich has reportedly become close to untenable.
The Express reports that Milan are willing to offer Conte an escape route, with the former Juve boss having previously admitted that he misses his home country.
Barney Corkhill
