Former Fiorentina and Lazio boss Stefano Pioli is reportedly Sampdoria’s first choice to replace Marco Giampaolo this summer.

According to ANSA, Samp have been made to act after Giampaolo’s comments following their 3-3 draw with Parma on Sunday, threatening to leave the club if they did not invest.

The agency claims the Blucerchiati particularly like Eusebio Di Francesco, but the ex-Roma boss will not come cheap.

Fiorentina defender Vitor Hugo is reportedly unhappy about losing his starting spot since new Coach Vincenzo Montella’s arrival and is ready to move on.

According to calcionews24.com, the 27-year-old is concerned about his lack of playing time, as he has yet to feature under Montella in the four games since the Coach replaced Stefano Pioli.

The Brazilian went from being first choice under Pioli to losing his spot to first Federico Ceccherini, then Vincent Laurini - who was moved from right-back into the centre of defence.

Fiorentina patron Andrea Della Valle visited the squad today with a warning. “The club and the city of Florence deserve the utmost effort.”

The club owner was at the training ground today, accompanied by President Cognini, director general Pantaleo Corvino and Club Manager Giancarlo Antognoni.

“The players were reminded of the need to get back to putting in performances worthy of this level, as in January Fiorentina were in the thick of the battle for European football and in the final four of the Coppa Italia,” read a statement.

Vincenzo Montella will make changes on his Fiorentina debut against Bologna, but can “sense the discontent” among fans after Stefano Pioli’s exit.

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He was appointed this week after the resignation of Coach Pioli, who was upset at the way club patrons Diego and Andrea Della Valle had criticised his professionalism in public.

Vincenzo Montella is back on the Fiorentina bench and insists he turned down other proposals. “Experiences improved me, including the negative ones.”

The tactician had already been at the Stadio Franchi from 2012 to 2015, but returned today after Stefano Pioli resigned.

“The Della Valle family and director Pantaleo Corvino convinced me. It was a different Fiorentina back then, at the end of a fairly stormy era,” said Montella in his Press conference.

The Italian Coaches’ Association voiced its “solidarity” with Stefano Pioli, whose departure from Fiorentina is increasingly bitter.

Pioli resigned in protest after the club released a statement that was highly critical of his performance.

Fiorentina have hit back at Stefano Pioli following his resignation, branding the Coach ‘incomprehensible and unjustifiable’.

Pioli accused the club of ‘forcing’ him to step down from his position, on the grounds that Fiorentina ‘questioned’ his character, but the club insist it was the 53-year-old who put them in ‘an unexpected and complicated situation’.

Multiple sources claim Vincenzo Montella has agreed a contract with Fiorentina to June 2020 after Stefano Pioli resigned today.

The Viola are in the Coppa Italia semi-final, but recent poor Serie A results saw the club question Pioli, and he then handed in his resignation.

Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia, Tuttomercatoweb and more all claim Montella has agreed basic terms not just for the rest of the season, but also until June 2020.