AZZURRI ARE SENDING OUT AN SOS TO CONTE

FROM BACK PAGE and Roberto Mancini are also in the frame but Conte, who led the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of Euro 2106, is the popular choice.

Conte, who has made no secret of his desire to return to his homeland, will enter the final 12 months of his three-year Chelsea contract next summer.

Italy will not face a competitive fixture until September.

Ancelotti is immediately available after his sacking by Bayern Munich last month but has said he wants to take a rest from football.

One Italian legend last night even called for the appointment of Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho.

Former World Cup winner Giuseppe Bergomi called for former Inter Milan coach Mourinho to get the job. “We need reform from the bottom up, from the youth sector,” he said. “Are we still a world football power? We need to get a great coach and Mourinho is one.”

A sticking point in recruiting a big-name manager will be finance – current coach Gian Piero Ventura earns just £1.3million a year.

There was confusion over Ventura’s future last night after he denied he had said he would resign.

The first coach to fail to reach a World Cup final – Italy were selected by committee in 1958 – is thought to be waiting for a massive pay-off before he will leave after signing a new contract in August. The Italian FA will meet to decide his fate today.