De Boer close to being sacked as Inter boss, Pioli or Villas Boas to replace him

Frank De Boer is close to being sacked as Inter boss. The club’s new owners Suning have taken a final decision over the Dutchman’s future. The former Ajax manager is not going to sit on the nerazzurri bench on Thursday when the Serie A side will face Southampton in a key Europa League clash.



The club’s chiefs defended De Boer during the last shareholders’ meeting held on Friday, but Sunday’s defeat to Sampdoria was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Inter new owners who have decided to sack De Boer.



Suning representatives will have a conference call with the manager tomorrow morning, when they should inform the Dutchman about their final decision. If De Boer is sacked tomorrow morning, Primavera coach Stefano Vecchi is expected to travel with the squad to Southampton where Inter will play a decisive game for their future in Europa League.



Former Lazio boss Stefano Pioli remains the favourite candidate to be appointed as interim boss until the end of the season. Pioli , who’s backed by Italian Inter chiefs, has already agreed to get the job, but has to cancel his contract with Lazio before signing a new one with the nerazzurri.



Suning, on the other hand, are pushing for Villas Boas who has an international pedigree and knows the club very well having already worked as José Mourinho’s assistant when the Special One was in charge of the Serie A giants. Leonardo can’t be considered an option anymore as he couldn’t find agreement over his role at the club once the season has ended.



Pioli and Villas Boas are the only two names left on Inter’s shortlist to replace De Boer who has never been so close to being sacked.



Fabrizio Romano, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto

