AC Milan eye Maurizio Sarri as Stefano Pioli replacement

AC Milan are said to be considering a move for former Juventus and Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri if they miss out on qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League

Sarri is currently out of work and was heavily linked with the Roma job, however the Giallorossi announced earlier this week that Jose Mourinho will be replacing Paulo Fonseca.

It's been recently reported that Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham have been in touch with Sarri. He's also been linked with a move to Fiorentina and a return to Napoli has also been discussed - so there's no shortage of options for the 2019/20 Scudetto winner.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan could be looking to move for the 62-year-old themselves, in view of replacing Stefano Pioli if they fail to hold onto the fourth spot they currently occupy. Pioli's side overachieved for long periods this season and spent 17 weeks at the top of Serie A.

At the start of the campaign, Milan's aim would have been to reach the Champions League and they still may achieve that but their success in the first half of the season has seen expectation levels rise to the point where narrowly missing out would be seen as a huge failure.

Just five points separate Atalanta in second and Lazio in sixth meaning the race to finish in the top four is wide open. Milan were recently beaten at home by Sassuolo and the following week they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Lazio, damaging their chances.

Judging by the aforementioned report, it appears the Rossoneri's hierarchy would view a failure to get over the line enough to cost Pioli his job and are already considering their next managerial appointment.