Manchester United are growing under increasing pressure to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and one name that has been touted as a possible replacement is ex-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
An atrocious 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool appears to have been the breaking point for many supporters, with many of the Old Trafford faithful pouring out of the ground long before full-time.
Conte would reportedly be interested in the role and while United are reportedly considering parting ways with Solskjaer, they are also said to be wary of bringing the Italian in.
According to the Telegraph, the man who won Serie A with Inter Milan last season is viewed in a similar light to Jose Mourinho, with the powers that be at United eager to avoid another situation where the dressing room atmosphere becomes toxic.
As the report states: "Solskjaer remains well liked on a personal level in the dressing room and there is none of the toxicity that marked the end of Jose Mourinho’s reign as United manager, nor is he an unpopular figure among the squad like Louis van Gaal."
While Conte has brought success wherever he has managed in recent years - winning the Premier League and FA Cup while at Stamford Bridge - the concerns are not irrational.
Diego Costa was the Blues top-scorer during the title-winning 2016-17 campaign under the Italian, but the pair fell out in January and the relationship never recovered.
"I had the option of returning to Atleti and when Chelsea told me to go back to training with the reserves, I was clear that I was going back to Atletico, even though there were other offers," Costa told MARCA
"If not, I would've stayed in Brazil with my family. I had to live my whole life with my family. I have other values that no money can buy."
That summer, Costa received a text from his manager informing him he was not in Conte's plans for the coming season..
"Hi Diego," it read.
"I hope you are well. Thanks for the season we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan."
