Simon Jordan Can’t See Everton Appointing Antonio Conte

Pundit and former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has shut down the prospect of Antonio Conte joining Everton.

The Italian tactician broke past Juventus’ increasingly firm monopoly on the Serie A title as his Inter Milan side claimed the Scudetto for the 2020/21 season, but Conte parted ways by mutual consent due to off-field reasoning.

Inter wanted to raise funds through the sale of several stars – something that was at odds with the ambitions of the former Chelsea boss.

Superficially, many sides may have been put on red alert by Conte’s availability – and the prospect of a managerial merry-go-round – but Jordan feels that Everton are out of the picture for a new manager.

Speaking to talkSPORT (27 May, 10.50am), Jordan could understand why the likes of Arsenal along with Everton would potentially be looking at Conte but felt that such interest would not be reciprocated.

“You can’t make a case for the manager to want to go to those clubs, with all the will in the world,” said the pundit.

“You can make a case for those clubs saying: ‘Hang on, I’ll have a proven winner in Antonio Conte.’ But you can’t really make a case, with the greatest respect to Everton, for Conte to want to go to Everton.

“Carlo Ancelotti is in there and it’s a work in progress, they will give him time. I still think that’s a project that’s not going to get where they want it to go – but we’ll see.

“I just don’t see Arsenal being in the market now to change, for whatever reason, while Everton I think are doubling down on Carlo Ancelotti.”

Read Everton Verdict

Few would doubt Conte’s excellent CV thronged with silverware, but Ancelotti boasts a similar winning habit to his compatriot.

There is no tangible suggestion that Ancelotti’s job security at Goodison Park is seriously under threat from the desires of Everton officials, though Jordan himself recently hit out at Ancelotti’s tenure.

Recent moves towards the club’s long-term vision in terms of stadium development, tying down recruitment expert Marcel Brands and the relative silence coming out of Everton over this season’s eventual finish is indicative that Ancelotti is a crucial component in a long-term club vision.