Porto make Francesco Farioli their prime managerial target

Porto have identified Francesco Farioli as their primary managerial target, according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

The move comes amid growing dissatisfaction with Martin Anselmi, whose short tenure has failed to convince the board and supporters.

Porto were eliminated from the Club World Cup group stage and finished third in the Primeira Liga, a whopping 11 points behind champions Sporting CP.

Since Andre Villas-Boas returned to Porto as president, the club has experienced a period of instability.

They parted ways with long-serving manager Sergio Conceicao and have since cycled through short-lived appointments.

Anselmi, who only arrived in January, appears set to become the third manager to depart in less than a year.

Farioli, who recently parted ways with Ajax, is viewed by Porto as the ideal candidate to usher in a new era at the Estadio do Dragao.

His time at Ajax saw him lead the Eredivisie for much of the season before narrowly missing out on the title to PSV Eindhoven in the final week.

Club officials are believed to be actively involved in negotiations with Farioli as they aim to conclude a deal before the start of pre-season preparations.

Farioli’s coaching journey began as part of Roberto De Zerbi’s staff in Italy before he broke out on his own, earning respect for his footballing philosophy and capacity to develop young talent.

He has reportedly rejected interest from several Serie A clubs this summer and is now set for a spell in Portuguese football.