Inter deny approach for Zenit coach

Inter have moved quickly to deny a report claiming that the club has lined up Luciano Spalletti to replace Claudio Ranieri as coach.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri will turn to the Zenit boss next summer if Ranieri fails to land some silverware this season or if the Roman is left dissatisfied by the money made available to him for new recruits during the January transfer window.

However, Inter released a strongly-worded statement on their official website dismissing the story as nonsense.

“With regard to what is reported in the Gazzetta dello Sport edition on newsstands now, FC Internazionale wholly refutes the stated hypothesis, which is completely without any foundation,” the statement read.

Ranieri has overseen a dramatic upturn in Inter’s fortunes since replacing Gian Piero Gasperini as coach in September, with the club having risen to fifth in the table and also secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League despite a disastrous start to the campaign.