Reports this evening suggest that Paulo Fonseca is moving up the ranks in the race to become new Milan coach, battling Sergio Conceicao.
Multiple sources had implied that the short-list was down to three Portuguese tacticians to replace Stefano Pioli next season, after fans vocally rejected the idea of a deal with Julen Lopetegui.
Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP was always an outsider, with Sergio Conceicao emerging as favourite, especially as the election of a new President at FC Porto could effectively render his recent contract extension null and void.
Fonseca rising in the Milan ranks
However, Sportitalia claim this evening that Fonseca is climbing back up the ranks and putting real pressure on his fellow countryman Conceicao.
Fonseca would be a free agent, as his contract with LOSC expires on June 30, but Milan face competition from Olympique Marseille for his services.
Portuguese sources had implied it was more agent Jorge Mendes pushing Sergio Conceicao than it was Milan directors pursuing him.
Sportitalia report that Fonseca is the preferred choice for Milan chief Geoffrey Moncada, but he must convince Zlatan Ibrahimovic and patron Gerry Cardinale.
Fonseca already has experience of coaching in Serie A, as the 51-year-old was on the Roma bench from 2019 to 2021.
‼️ #Milan nelle ultime ore guadagna posizioni #Fonseca nei confronti di Sergio #Conceicao che pure è oggetto di valutazioni da parte dei rossoneri. Scelta ad ogni modo non ancora definita https://t.co/FlfF2nAKwZ
— Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) May 4, 2024