Ruben Amorim has emerged as a leading candidate to become the next manager of AC Milan, sources have confirmed.
The Portuguese coach has been without a club since Manchester United sacked him in January, following a difficult 14-month stint at Old Trafford.
Sources close to Amorim had previously distanced the 41-year-old from a return to Benfica, where he made 154 appearances across six years as a player.
While no formal agreement has been reached, conversations have already taken place between Milan and Amorim’s representatives over the vacant role.
Milan are searching for a new manager after dismissing Massimiliano Allegri in May, following a catastrophic collapse in form at the end of the season.
The Italian giants had been nine points clear of fifth place when they beat rivals Inter in March, but then won just three of their final 10 games.
That run yielded only 10 points, leaving Milan finishing a single point behind Como, who secured the final Champions League spot on the final day.
Amorim sits high on Milan’s list of preferred candidates, though he is not the only name under serious consideration by the club’s hierarchy.
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has also been linked with the vacancy, alongside Oliver Glasner, who departed Crystal Palace after their UEFA Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Ralf Rangnick, another former Manchester United manager who had been connected with the Milan job, is now out of the running after extending his contract as Austria coach through to 2028.
Rangnick had managed United between 2021 and 2022 before taking the Austria national team role, and his renewal ends any prospect of a move to Serie A.
Should Amorim take charge at Milan, he would face an immediate and intriguing reunion with his former club in pre-season.
AC Milan are scheduled to face Manchester United in Wroclaw, Poland on 15 August, just one week before the Premier League season gets underway.
