Former England international Danny Mills has cautioned against Everton solidifying their interest in Antonio Conte, claiming the club would be compromising on their principles.

The ex-Leeds defender was keen to promote the idea that Everton’s next appointment has to fit with their six-year plan, with the next manager fully buying in to the club’s vision.

Reports from Football Insider claimed earlier this month that Everton were looking at the 51-year-old as one potential option, expanding the scope of managerial targets.

Everton have been heavily linked with ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, but the club has faced widespread backlash from fans.

Backing an uncompromising approach, Mills feels that the ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan boss would be too keen to interfere with the squad and would be too insistent on certain conditions.

Speaking to Football Insider, Mills was doubtful on Conte’s suitability:

“It’s difficult, Conte’s going to want top dollar.

“He’s going to want players to bring in and may change the squad and team too much.

“You have to have a long-term plan and work out where you’re heading and what you’re doing and stick by it.

“If it doesn’t work then you have to change your plans and hire a new manager.

“This is where Marcel Brands and Farhad Moshiri have to have a long-term business plan of where they want to go and the type of football they want to play because that’s a five or six-year plan.

“Getting success in next season or the season after with Conte is short-termism. If they’re looking at the long-term future of the club it’s like ‘Ok, what sort of manager are we bringing in? What sort of recruitment do we want?’

Conte broke Juventus’ grip on the Serie A title, leading Inter to the Scudetto at the expense of his former side before resigning over disagreements with the board.

Read Everton Verdict

With the club making great strides off the pitch with the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium development, matching on-pitch achievement with off-field progress is essential.

Given Conte’s calibre and his refusal to accept a proposal from Spurs amid concerns over competitiveness, it is hard to see Conte joining Everton without the club making large concessions.

Moshiri has a generous record backing managers financially, but Conte may demand new heights with no guarantees of a long-term Toffees future.