Arsenal target Carlo Ancelotti could be available for nothing after December 10 as the veteran manager nears the end of his Napoli tenure.
The Italian is facing the sack at the Serie A outfit after a recent run of eight games without a win in all competitions.
Radio Marte claims Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already decided to pull the trigger and dismiss Ancelotti on December 10 following the club's final Champions League group game with Genk.
Tottenham were rumoured to be interested in the 60-year-old after firing Mauricio Pochettino but were put off by the amount it would cost to free him from his role in Italy
But should Arsenal wait until after Ancelotti is dismissed, they could bring the former Chelsea boss in on the cheap.
READ MORE
Real Madrid to face Man City in Champions League quarterfinals
UEFA Champions League: Arsenal, Barcelona fight for Europe survival
Arsenal remain top as Man City and Liverpool draw at Anfield
Son stars as Tottenham routs Champions League rival Aston Villa
The Gunners may be looking for slightly cheaper alternatives after dismissing Emery.
However, the Telegraph last week claimed Ancelotti was one of the names being considered by Arsenal bosses.
The highly thought of manager has enjoyed spells in charge of Juventus, AC Milan, PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
But he has had to fight off claims his Napoli players want him out of the club.
"The team is against the coach, they say. But it isn't so," Ancelotti said after Sunday's 2-1 defeat.
"I have an excellent relationship with the squad. No one has ever failed to respect me. I don't see any friction between the players and us.
"We exchange ideas every day, the situation must be resolved quickly because we are failing badly."
But diehard Arsenal fan Piers Morgan thinks Ancelotti would be open to the idea of returning to London and the Premier League.
The ITV presenter tweeted on Monday: "Arsenal should move for Ancelotti.
"We need a manager of his stature & experience to get us out of this mess. I’m told he would be receptive to an approach... #afc."
Arsenal hero Freddie Ljungberg is taking charge of the first-team until further notice.