Inter sack boss to strengthen Conte links

With three games of the Serie A season remaining, Inter Milan have sacked Stefano Pioli, strengthening the speculation that they will attempt to bring in Chelsea boss Antonio Conte for next season. 

It has been an underwhelming season for the blue half of Milan, with the possibility of no European football next season looking ever more likely. Pioli took over in November, replacing the struggling Frank de Boer, but he has now been sentenced to the same fate. Many expected that Pioli would be shown the exit door, but the timing has puzzled many, with the youth team coaching staff taking the reigns for the final three games. 

The wealthy new owners of Inter Milan have not hidden the fact that they would like a higher profile manager in charge of the team, with Antonio Conte and Diego Simeone both being linked to the job. 

Chelsea are desperate to keep hold of their boss, who could end the season by guiding the club a domestic league and FA Cup double. They are said to be willing to make promises to Conte to keep hold of him, but the prospect of a return to his home country, along with a big transfer budget, may be enough to tempt Conte away.