Napoli are currently moving towards a third season under Antonio Conte, in line with the agreement already in place, but the club is also understood to be preparing a contingency plan should things unexpectedly change at the end of the campaign.
According to reports in Italy, Aurelio De Laurentiis does not want a repeat of the situation that unfolded with Luciano Spalletti, when Napoli were left needing to react after the title-winning coach opted to walk away despite the club having exercised an option to extend his stay.
While Conte has publicly indicated his intention to complete the three-year project with Napoli, and sporting director Giovanni Manna has also confirmed that both sides are working with the future in mind, the club is still said to be assessing possible alternatives behind the scenes.
The profile being considered for any potential successor reportedly points towards an Italian coach, relatively young in age and with a clear, proactive footballing identity. Serie A experience would be seen as an advantage, though it would not necessarily be essential if the candidate has shown the right qualities elsewhere. The willingness to work within Napoli’s philosophy would also be regarded as an important factor.
At this stage, however, all signs continue to point towards Conte remaining in charge for a third year.
The key issues expected to be discussed in the anticipated meeting between De Laurentiis and Conte are believed to be the transfer market strategy and Napoli’s injury problems, which have heavily affected the squad this season. Several important players have spent significant periods out, including Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, André Frank Zambo Anguissa, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Billy Gilmour and David Neres.
For now, Napoli and Conte appear to be on the same page as they look ahead to the coming season. Still, the club is keen to ensure it is not caught unprepared should the current direction unexpectedly shift.
