Antonio Conte remains Inter’s preferred candidate to replace Luciano Spalletti as Inter boss at the end of the season, despite former manager Jose Mourinho offering himself to the club this week.

Mourinho is looking to return to management after being sacked by Manchester United in December and would be keen on a return to San Siro, using former president Massimo Moratti and Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera as his biggest advocates.

However, Tuttosport today reported the Nerazzurri’s owners Suning would rather appoint Conte should Spalletti leave in the summer.

Beppe Marotta is expected to have the final say on who Inter’s coach will be next season and he too is keener on moving for Conte, who is thought to be the ideal man to create a group with a winning mentality.

“Mourinho has already made a triumphant return to Chelsea and would want to repeat the feat at the club where he enjoyed the highest point of his coaching area,” the Turin-based paper reported.

“Steven Zhang agrees with Marotta’s line of thinking, though, and has other ideas.”