Antonio Conte a shock managerial target for PSG

Antonio Conte has reportedly been earmarked by PSG as their next manager, if Unai Emery fails to meet his targets this season

According to a report by French publication Le Parisien, PSG have set Unai Emery the target to reach the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Should he fail to do so, Les Parisiens will show him the exit door at Parc des Princes and are planning to replace him with Antonio Conte.

Conte was almost an instant success at Chelsea, as after a slightly stuttering start to his maiden campaign with the West London club, he delivered the Premier League title last season, while also reaching the final of the FA Cup.

However, the relationship between the Italian manager and the Chelsea hierarchy has taken a turn for the worse following the summer transfer window. Conte was left dissatisfied with the Blues’ transfer policy, and has been linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge following a slow start to the current campaign by his side.

Antonio Conte is reportedly interested in the PSG job ?https://t.co/2eSRiURLHh pic.twitter.com/GWcXhefqvE

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 3, 2017

Unai Emery, on the other hand, hasn’t had the best of times since taking charge at PSG last summer. In the 2016-17 season, Les Parisiens endured one of their worst campaigns in recent years, finishing runners-up in Ligue 1, while bowing out of the Champions League in the Round of 16.

While his side has made a blistering start to the 2017-18 season in both the league and Europe, it’s not surprising that Emery’s job is on the line, if he does not deliver much success this time around as well.

And the PSG hierarchy have set a target for the Spaniard – to reach the Champions League semifinals at the very least. If he fails the target, he risks losing his job when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Otherwise, he will be rewarded with a one-year extension.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding his status, PSG have started identifying replacement options for Emery, with Conte being their primary target. Indeed, the Italian is not assured of remaining in the Chelsea hot seat when the 2018-19 begins, with Chelsea lining up possible replacements as well, as per reports.

Should he continue to remain at loggerheads with the Chelsea board, a switch to the Parc des Princes could be on the cards. It now remains to be seen how the rest of the season pans out, with Emery set a definitive target to keep his job.