Sérgio Conceição is closing in on a move to AC Milan after seven years at Porto.
Milan have called time on Serie A-winning coach Stefano Pioli, but new director Zlatan Ibrahimovic has since had to cancel a deal with Julen Lopetegui due to fan pressure.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, that leaves the club’s shortlist at Conceição, Paulo Fonseca, Maurizio Sarri, Roberto Martinez and Mark van Bommel.
The club are now choosing between the two Portuguese coaches, Conceição and Fonseca, but the former is believed to be confident of winning the race with his agent Jorge Mendes working hard to get a deal done.
That is despite departing Porto president Pinto da Costa announcing that the pair had shaken hands on a four-year extension on the eve of a vote on the club’s presidency.
That publicity stunt didn’t work with the members, and Da Costa lost that election to Andre Villas-Boas, who will now be looking for a new coach, should Conceição get his wish.
Milan fans have already written off the signing of Lopetegui, but it’s understood that Conceição would be a popular choice.
An elite-level midfielder, the 49-year-old starred with Parma, Inter and Lazio during his playing career. He has also regularly over-achieved in the Champions League, taking Porto into the knockout stages of the competition on a reduced budget.
Those factors, and the manager’s keenness to finally leave the Portuguese side suggest that a deal could well be finalised in the coming weeks or even days.
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