Carlo Ancelotti Reportedly Offered Italy National Team Manager's Job

Former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly been offered the position of Italy manager. 

Sky Italy (h/t Sky Sports News) reported the news on Tuesday:

The Azzurri have been without a permanent boss since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in November after failing to guide them to the World Cup, the first time since 1958 that they have not qualified.

Italy have since been managed by caretaker Luigi Di Biagio, who made the step up from the under-21 side.

According to Corriere dello Sport (h/t the Mirror's Jack Rathborn), Ancelotti is rumoured to be a managerial target for Arsenal but is close to agreeing a deal with the Italian Football Federation having met with commissioner Roberto Fabbricini and sub-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta in Rome on Monday.

The only obstacle is said to be Ancelotti's salary, as Italy are only able to afford to pay a total of €5 million for the manager and his staff.

In December, Ancelotti told RAI Sport (h/t the Press Association, via Eurosport) that he had turned down the chance to become Italy boss because of reservations over moving into international management and the problems throughout Italian football in need of address.

The 58-year-old has been out of a job since being sacked by Bayern Munich earlier in the season and recently expressed a desire to return to management, per Goal:

Ancelotti has had a great deal of success at club level, per Squawka Football:

He particularly specialises in cup competitions, having won the UEFA Champions League on three occasions as well as domestic trophies in Italy, England, Spain and Germany, which could bode well for Italy if he takes charge.

The Azzurri's squad is far from vintage, but it's hardly lacking in talent either—they have the potential to achieve far more than they have under the right coach.

Italy are in need of a significant shake up, though, and despite Ancelotti's impressive honours list that does not appear to be his style. In recent years, he has operated as a relaxing figurehead in the wake of an intense predecessor, such as replacing Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and then Pep Guardiola at Bayern.

At Italy or Arsenal—who would also benefit from some intensity after years of decline under Arsene Wenger—he would therefore have a different job on his hands to which he has recently been accustomed. While that's not to say he could not be successful, he may not be the ideal fit.