Antonio Conte has emerged as Italy's No 1 choice to take over as national team manager.
Gian Piero Ventura was fired in November after the Azzurri missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Luigi Di Biagio was promoted from the Under 21 squad as an interim replacement.
Italian federation vice commissioner Alessandro Costacurta told Gazzetta dello Sport, 'I haven't chosen yet but I think Conte is the one who could do the best. I'll definitely talk with him in a couple of months.'
Conte, whose future at Chelsea remains uncertain, already coached Italy to the quarter-finals of the 2016 European Championship before joining the London club.