Marcelino emerges as leading candidate to coach AC Milan in 2020/21

After a rather upsetting end to his successful spell in charge of Valencia, Marcelino could well be back in football sooner rather than later with the Spaniard emerging as the leading candidate to coach AC Milan in the 2020/21 season.

The Italian giants have fallen on hard times and have ended up bouncing from coach to coach in the pursuit of a return to the Champions League.

According to a report published by Mundo Deportivo, an agreement with the Rossoneri has not been agreed, although contact between the two parties is at a significantly advanced stage.

Marcelino's agent, Eugenio Botas, has gone as far as to publicly acknowledge the interest in his client, although he was quick to deny any reports of an offer from Milan's sporting director Paolo Maldini.

"It's clear that Marcelino wants to coach a European giant next season," Botas admitted to News Mediaset.

"Milan are one of those big teams because of their history.

"However, we want to say that Marcelino hasn't met with Maldini, nor has he received an offer to coach Milan next season."

Such reports are unlikely to come as any comfort for current coach Stefano Pioli, with the former Fiorentina boss having signed a contract until the summer of 2021 when he took over from Marco Giampaolo in October.