According to Tuttomercatoweb, Conte's future in Naples is uncertain after he publicly flirted with the Italy vacancy following the Azzurri's failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup. After Napoli's win over AC Milan, he did little to cool the speculation.
"The media has to have something to write about, and it's normal that my name appears among the candidates," Conte said. "If I were the president of the FIGC, I would also consider myself along with others."
He went further when asked directly about his own future at the club.
"I have one more year on my contract. I will meet with De Laurentiis."
Those words, according to Tuttomercatoweb, are a symptom of a relationship between player and club that is at its lowest point.
Into that uncertainty steps Maresca. The 46-year-old Neapolitan had an unremarkable spell at Parma earlier in his career but rebuilt his reputation significantly in England — first winning the Championship title with Leicester City, then guiding Chelsea to the Conference League and Club World Cup. He reached the Champions League last 16 with the Blues before stepping down on January 1 of this year following tensions with the club's ownership.
For Napoli, Maresca would represent a way of maintaining ambition even without Conte.
Tuttomercatoweb also lists Raffaele Palladino and Vincenzo Italiano as candidates, with journalist Nicolo Schira adding Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Grosso to the names under consideration.
However, Maresca is not without competition for his services. Manchester City are also monitoring him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, viewing him as a natural fit given the tactical DNA he absorbed as Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad.
Whether he ends up in Naples or Manchester may depend on one question: does Conte stay or go?