Italy's next head coach will be Luigi Di Biagio, Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini, according to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta.
Gian Piero Ventura was sacked as Azzurri boss following November's play-off defeat to Sweden, a loss that saw the four-time world champions miss out on World Cup qualification for the first time in 60 years.
Former Roma and Inter midfielder Di Biagio will step up from his role as Italy's Under-21 coach to take charge of the senior side on a caretaker basis in next month's friendly matches against Argentina and England.
Di Biagio is apparently firmly in the running for the full-time post, along with ex-Manchester City and current Zenit boss Mancini, but Costacurta once again naming Conte among his chosen candidates will again raise eyebrows.