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, sources have told ESPN.
The David Beckham-owned franchise are due to face LAFC in their first MLS fixture on March 1 and sources have told ESPN 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.
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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.
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.