Claudio Ranieri has been linked with a return to management with Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon, and his former Chelsea defender John Terry could well join him over in Lisbon should he be appointed in the next few weeks.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that Ranieri, who has been out-of-work since leaving Ligue 1 side Nantes in May, is in line to become the club’s fourth manager in the space of three months.
The publication states that Pedro Madeira Rodrigues, a candidate for the upcoming elections on 8th September, has agreed a deal in principle with former Leicester boss Ranieri, while free agent Terry is also believed to be a top target for the troubled club.
Sporting have endured a chaotic summer, both financially and politically, during which a whole host of players have quit the club following an attack at the training ground in May after the club missed out on Champions League qualification - they finished in 3rd, 10 points behind champions Porto.
Boss Jorge Jesus decided to leave his post and venture off to Saudi Arabia where he took charge of Al-Hilal. Sinisa Mihajlovic was then named as his replacement, only to be sacked nine days later.
Former manager Jose Peseiro returned as head coach in July, but he could now be on his way out if Rodrigues comes out on top in next month’s elections.
Sporting kick-off their season at home to Vitoria Setubal on Saturday night, for which they are priced at 3/10 to open up with a victory, while they are the 7/1 third favourites to win the Primeira Liga - behind defending champions Porto, and Benfica - for the first time since 2002.
