AC Milan face a crucial summer this year amid ongoing speculation that Stefano Pioli will be replaced ahead of next season.
The Rossoneri have enjoyed progress and success under the Italian tactician, the peak of which was our Scudetto triumph in 2022, while a run to the semi-finals of the Champions League last year was a memorable journey.
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However, particularly this season, there has been a sense that the cycle is coming to an end and the club is in need of fresh energy and ideas to ensure we’re increasingly competitive at the top level and can challenge for major honours.
Speculation has been rife for weeks now over both Pioli’s future and potential successors, and another name has now emerged as a potential option for the Milan management.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Porto boss Sergio Conceicao has been added to our shortlist of potential targets, with doubts emerging over his future with the Portuguese giants, coupled with a push from his agent, Jorge Mendes, towards Milan if the job opens up as expected.
Milan are now tipped to consider him as an option alongside the likes of Paulo Fonseca, Roberto De Zerbi and Mark van Bommel, while other names have also been touted in the past week or so as it looks as though we have a plethora of options to assess, and then ultimately pick as the best candidate.
As per Sky Sport Italia, negotiations with Conceicao are said to be at an advanced stage, but no agreement has yet been reached as he will decide on his future with Porto first.
All have pros and cons as expected, with Conceicao boasting tangible success with the Portuguese giants over his tenure in charge, but how will his adaptation to coaching in Italy work out? Conversely, De Zerbi is more familiar with coaching in Serie A, but does he have the experience and success to take on a job as big as being Milan boss?
Van Bommel is remembered fondly from his time as a Milan player, but has he acquired the necessary experience and know-how to take on this job? Another name touted is Ruben Amorim, but is he ready for that step up and is he a suitable candidate to work within the infrastructure in place at Milan?
The same can be said and done for other names linked with the position, and so it’s hoped that the club’s hierarchy eventually land on the most suitable option who can take Milan forward.
Meanwhile, according to Calciomercato’s Daniele Longo, there is now a verbal agreement between Pioli and Napoli over a three-year contract, and so that will no doubt add further fuel to the fire in terms of rumours about his departure, and particularly who will arrive to fill that void.