Report: Conte in talks to succeed Lopetegui at Real Madrid

Julen Lopetegui's loss could be Antonio Conte's gain.

With Real Madrid set to sack Spanish gaffer Lopetegui following Sunday's embarrassing El Clasico defeat to Barcelona, the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano reports that former Chelsea boss Conte held talks with Real president Florentino Perez on Sunday.

It is understood that Conte is privy to a £9.5-million payout from Chelsea should he not find a position elsewhere this season after he was replaced in the summer by countryman Maurizio Sarri following two years with the west London lot.

Should the apparent negotiations prove to be unfruitful, Real are reportedly considering promoting reserve side manager Santiago Solari, who spent five seasons plying his trade as a midfielder with Los Blancos in the early 2000s.

Real are expected to sack Lopetegui on Monday following a dire stretch in which the 13-time European Cup winners have picked up just one point from five league matches. The club travel to play third-tier Melilla for a Copa del Rey match in the autonomous Spanish city that borders Morocco.