Inter Miami want to make Patrick Vieira their head coach in time for the start of the Major League Soccer expansion team’s 2020 launch season.
The David Beckham-owned franchise are due to face LAFC in their first MLS fixture on March 1 and sources have said that former New York City head coach Vieira, who is in charge of Ligue 1 outfit Nice, is the club’s No. 1 target to lead the team.
Miami have made a series of player signings in preparation for their debut season in MLS, but the franchise has so far failed to hire a coach.
Sources have told ESPN that Miami had made efforts to tempt Carlo Ancelotti to Florida to take charge of team, with the Italian’s close friendship with Beckham, who he worked with at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, a key factor in their attempts to hire the 60-year-old.
But despite Ancelotti being open to moving to the United States following his sacking by Napoli earlier this month, Everton’s ability to offer the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich coach a much more lucrative contract at Goodison Park priced him out of Miami’s reach.
Well, well, well. #NYCFC
“David Beckham's Inter Miami want Patrick Vieira as head coach – sources” https://t.co/Ma4GDBAmpi
— NY is BLUE (@NYisBLUE) December 20, 2019
Vieira is regarded to be a more obtainable target, however, due to his MLS experience in New York and concerns over his position at Nice.
Despite being bought by Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest man, earlier this year, Nice are languishing in the bottom half of Ligue 1, placing the former Arsenal midfielder under growing pressure.
Sources have told ESPN that Miami are confident of hiring Vieira, however, and that a deal could be struck with Nice before the end of this month.
Vieira had been on the list of potential candidates to become Arsenal’s new manager, but the Emirates club are expected to announce Mikel Arteta imminently.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down the prospect of Erling Haaland joining Manchester United in January despite reports on Friday the FC Salzburg striker is flying into Manchester for talks and insisted Paul Pogba will not be sold.
Sources have told ESPN that United made an enquiry over Haaland, who has also been linked with moves to RB Leipzig, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund and Solskjaer has travelled to Salzburg to meet with the 19-year-old’s advisors.
However, speaking at a news conference on Friday morning, Solskjaer tried to cool talks of imminent negotiations.
“I don’t think he’s en route here,” Solskjaer said. “I can’t comment on other team’s players. It’s just one of those things. In this job there are so many speculations.
“He’s not coming to Manchester. I know the boy and his friends and he’s on a Christmas holiday. You can’t fly anywhere from Stavanger, you need to go via.”
Solskjaer has overseen an upturn in United’s form ahead of the trip to bottom of the table Watford on Sunday but the Norwegian said his squad is still in need of additions.
“As a manager you always hope that you can do something but then again it’s not something that’s nailed on,” Solskjaer said. “It has to be the right player, the right age, that he’s going to fit into this squad and for the right value.
“We’re always looking and the transfer window is open but it might not happen.”
United will face Watford on Sunday without Pogba while the France international continues his recovery from a foot injury.
Pogba is training again after more than two months on the sidelines and Solskjaer is adamant he will play for United again.
“He’s not getting sold in January,” the United manager said. “He’s training, but he’s not been training with us for long.
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“He’s training and that’s a step forward for us. He’s a fantastic player and a charismatic personality and for us we’re happy that he’s here.”