The rumor mill in Italian football is heating up, and it's pointing toward a familiar face returning to Naples. According to growing reports, Maurizio Sarri has emerged as Napoli's top candidate to take over from Antonio Conte in the 2026-27 season.

Italian transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà has been leading the charge on this story, reporting that Sarri—currently at the helm of Lazio—is the frontrunner for the Napoli job if Conte decides to move on. Conte's future at the Stadio Maradona remains uncertain, with a crucial meeting expected in the coming weeks between the fiery tactician and Napoli's management, including club president Aurelio De Laurentiis. This showdown will likely determine whether the partnership continues or if a change is on the horizon.

Pedullà took to social media to share that "confirmations are coming from all sides" that Sarri is the "top name" for the role if the club and Conte part ways. It's a storyline that has fans buzzing, especially given Sarri's deep history with the Partenopei.

Sarri's current stint at Lazio has been anything but smooth. He returned to the Biancocelesti last summer, only to face a turbulent season plagued by a summer transfer embargo that left the club unable to make new signings for the early part of the campaign. At 67, Sarri is no stranger to adversity, but this season has tested his resolve.

Of course, Napoli fans will remember Sarri's first tenure fondly. From 2015 to 2018, he spent three seasons at the club, winning 98 of 148 matches in charge. His final campaign was a heartbreaker—he collected a staggering 91 points but still fell short of the Scudetto, a painful reminder of how competitive Serie A can be. Now, with whispers of a reunion growing louder, the question is whether Sarri can finally deliver that elusive title if he returns to the bench in Naples.