Bookmakers believe Antonio Conte could be tempted by Manchester United job

Manchester United versus Tottenham is a significant fixture in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League but there is also an intriguing subplot involving the opposing managers at Old Trafford.

Betfair and Paddy Power are betting on who will be United's manager on the first day of next season and Spurs boss Antonio Conte is rated a more likely candidate than the incumbent, interim coach Ralf Rangnick.

Conte only arrived at Tottenham at the beginning of November but he is 13-2 to start the 2022-23 campaign as United manager.

Rangnick, who joined the Red Devils in December on a six-month contract after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is 12-1 to get the job on a permanent basis.

Last weekend's 4-1 derby defeat to Manchester City did not enhance his chances and the market is headed by Paris St-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino at evens and Ajax's Erik ten Hag at 15-8.

Conte, who won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2016-17, is next in the betting although Spurs would be reluctant to let him go in the summer, especially as his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked after only ten league games.

The Italian has had a tempestuous start to his career in north London, with highs including a dramatic 3-2 win at champions Manchester City and recent drubbings of Leeds and Everton.

However, Conte has also seen his side suffer surprise league defeats to Southampton, Wolves and Burnley, as well as an FA Cup exit at second-tier Middlesbrough.

He does not tend to outstay his welcome – the Tottenham job is his ninth different role in the space of 14 years – and he walked away from Inter in May 2021 having just led them to the Serie A title.

That history may raise United's hopes of tempting Conte to Old Trafford and they could be even keener if he gets the better of Rangnick on Saturday.

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