While resistance grows to the idea of Julen Lopetegui at Milan, Sky Sport Italia report other candidates include Ruben Amorim, Xavi, Unai Emery and Sergio Conceicao.
Stefano Pioli is widely expected to be fired at the end of the season after the Europa League quarter-final exit to 10-man Roma.
The race is on to find his replacement and the name mentioned most often by various sources including La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia is Lopetegui.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Spaniard has also been approached by West Ham United, who would even offer him a higher salary, but he is prepared to wait for a month in case Milan opt for him.
It is already proving to be a very unpopular idea, with protests growing on social media, while all the Sky Sport Italia pundits in the studio including Billy Costacurta and Paolo Condò warned this would “not be an upgrade” on Pioli.
Milan seek international edge
Di Marzio shrugs off the Gazzetta dello Sport suggestions of Marcelo Gallardo, Christophe Galtier and Paulo Fonseca, but does confirm Milan are looking for a foreign coach.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been given a key role advising owner Gerry Cardinale and it’s suggested he wans Xavi, who is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.
Thiago Motta is another preferred candidate, but he is said to already have a verbal agreement with Juventus.
Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP is reportedly close to Liverpool, but not locked down yet, while Sergio Conceicao at FC Porto would relish a return to Serie A after his playing days.
Thomas Tuchel will be fired by Bayern Munich and Unai Emery is currently at Aston Villa, but also linked with Manchester United.
They’ll probably pick the cheapest.
And they’ll probably have to go through another 20 managers before they get another stadium.