Inter would prefer to appoint Antonio Conte as their new head coach rather than bring Jose Mourinho back to the club, Corriere dello Sport reported today.

Conte will be free to return to management in a fortnight’s time when his protracted legal dispute with Chelsea finally ends, having given evidence to a Premier League arbitration panel yesterday.

Juventus, Milan and Roma have all thought about making a move for the Italian, but Inter remain the most likely destination if Conte returns to Serie A.

“Conte is a huge temptation for Inter, more so than Mourinho,” the Rome-based publication claimed.

“Now that most of Europe’s top clubs have sorted out their coaches for next season, let’s remember what sort of relationship Conte has with Beppe Marotta: special, backdated and potentially workable for the future.”

Luciano Spalletti’s contract at Inter runs until 2021 but he is expected to leave the club in the summer after a disappointing 2018-19 campaign.