Manchester United’s striker Romelu Lukaku has been linked with a move to Inter Milan this summer. Antonio Conte has been appointed manager of the Italian club and has long been an admirer of Lukaku.

The Belgian snubbed a move to join Conte’s Chelsea in preference for a move to United in 2017 but is reportedly open to making a move to Serie A this summer.

Conte didn’t admit to talks taking place but didn’t rule out his interest in Lukaku.

I think now it’s very difficult to talk about this. For sure, we have a plan to try to improve the team. But it will be very important for the players, it will be very important to have a great will and great ambition, me, the players and the club, to try to reduce this gap.

Conte was asked whether Inter Milan had already met with Lukaku but the manager said the sporting director would be best placed to answer questions about transfers.

No, that’s not right. But I repeat in this moment there is a sporting director to talk about this and do this question about the transfer market, about the players. But I repeat, now we are very focused to do the first step and to work together. You’re talking about the transfer market, you have to talk to the sporting director about this topic.

Conte was talking to BBC World Service.