It has been decided that AC Milan will split company with head coach Stefano Pioli after the season. Reports from Italy suggest that the Rossoneri met with Pioli’s representatives to inform him of the decision. This move comes after weeks of speculation about his future with the team.



After the San Siro giants fired Marco Giampaolo in October 2019, they named Stefano Pioli as his replacement. The forthcoming encounter against Salernitana will be his last with the Rossoneri. In any case, with second place already secured, the players and supporters can bid him a dignified farewell in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/argentinas-scaloni-could-take-over-milan-but-huge-hurdle-in-way/">last match of the season at San Siro</a>.



<h2>Still no agreement on severance pay</h2>



The Italian boss’ five-year tenure in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule/">Milan</a> saw significant achievements. Their incredible 2021-22 Scudetto title and last season’s Champions League semi-final appearance were not enough for the club to keep him after a lackluster campaign.



Also, the inability to sustain success this season and the ongoing struggles in the Champions League were critical factors in the club’s decision. His contract runs until June 2025, so negotiations regarding his severance pay are still ongoing, <a href="https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2024/05/22/fonseca-milan-calciomercato-news" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sky Italia</a> claims.



“Milan are currently negotiating the termination of the contract with Pioli and his agents, also to avoid having two coaches on the payroll,” journalist Manuele Baiocchini says. Until an agreement is reached or Pioli secures a new position, Milan will continue to pay his salary.



Previously Baiocchini revealed that the club’s total payroll expenditures include the coach and his staff’s contracts, amounting to $12.4 million. As a result, the upper management should initiate negotiations for severance compensation.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240523_WST_508676_Pulisic-Pioli-1200x670_ba46efab.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-508731" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Pulisic-Pioli-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Pulisic-Pioli-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Pulisic-Pioli-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Pulisic-Pioli.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Who will replace Pioli at Milan?</h2>



Reports indicate that Paulo Fonseca is allegedly close to succeeding Pioli, having verbally agreed to a deal. As per <a href="https://www.calciomercato.com/news/milan-fonseca-e-la-scelta-definitiva-cosa-manca-per-arrivare-all-56230">Calciomercato</a>, he will ink a three-year deal with Milan, with a net annual salary of about $3.2 million.



After turning down contract extension offers from Lille and Marseille, Fonseca has decided to join Milan instead; all because of the ambitious and medium-term strategy that the Rossoneri have presented. The opportunity to return to Italy and the assurance of a competitive squad is allegedly enough to persuade him.



A good contender to become Pulisic’s manager, Fonseca had managerial experience in Serie A with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/roma-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers">Roma</a>; in addition, he has also just had success with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/lille-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers">Lille</a>. After considering Julen Lopetegui, Sergio Conceicao, and Mark van Bommel, the club finally decided on the Portuguese.



The American owners anticipate an infusion of new ideas and a shift in focus from the newly formed leadership team under the 51-year-old. To strengthen the team, Fonseca could make several additions during the summer transfer window; in fact, it appears that he has already started planning them.



He may be looking to add a right back and a striker to his roster, Sky’s report adds. According to <a href="https://sempremilan.com/sm-exclusive-milan-12m-lille-tiago-santos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sempre Milan</a>, the coach could likely have his eyes on Lille’s Tiago Santos, who may replace captain Davide Calabria in the lineup. The rumor mill is also still running at full steam ahead over Jonathan David’s potential transfer to the San Siro after his sensational start to 2024.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Milan tell Pioli decision on future: What now for Pulisic's team?

It has been decided that Pulisic and Musah's AC Milan will split company with head coach Stefano Pioli after the season.

Fellow Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and West Ham could soon battle for the same manager. Paulo Fonseca is reportedly a summer target for both London-based teams. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/19/west-ham-paulo-fonseca-possible-david-moyes-replacement-manager-potter-rodgers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guardian</a> and <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-crystal-palace-paulo-fonseca-manager-b1075446.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evening Standard</a> are both claiming that the clubs are interested in the coach. The Portuguese coach is currently managing French side Lille at the moment. Fonseca has the team sitting fifth in the <a href="https://www.worldsoccertalk.com/ligue-un-tv-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ligue 1</a> table, up from 10th before joining the club last summer.



<h5>Subpar seasons could mean new managers for Palace, West Ham</h5>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/crystal-palace-sack-vieira-after-12-match-winless-run-20230317-WST-423618.html">Crystal Palace previously fired Patrick Vieira</a> following a disappointing current campaign. The former Arsenal legend finished a fairly respectable 12th in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> during his freshman season at Palace. However, the Frenchman found his club in a relegation the club sacked him in March. 



Veteran coach <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/hodgson-returns-to-crystal-palace-as-manager-20230321-WST-423889.html">Roy Hodgson came back</a> on March 21 and he hasn’t lost a game since. The south London team is now sitting 12th in the league, nine points from the drop zone. Appointing Hodgson was a temporary fix by club officials. Nevertheless, things may change if the 75-year-old coach keeps winning.



West Ham is in a bit of a different situation in comparison to their English counterparts. They have not yet sacked their manager. David Moyes is still currently at the helm with the Hammers. However, there is a growing likelihood that the Scot will not return for the 2023/24 campaign. 



Typically a top-half team, West Ham is right in the middle of the Premier League relegation battle. The Hammers currently sit 15th in the table, just four points from a potential place in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Championship</a>.



<h2>Paulo Fonseca almost landed at West Ham in 2018</h2>



Fonseca does have a little history with Premier League clubs. The coach previously interviewed for West Ham and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tottenham-tv-schedule/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> managerial vacancies in recent years. He nearly received the Hammers job in 2018, but club brass opted to choose Manuel Pellegrini instead. Spurs similarly picked Nuno Espirito Santo over Fonseca in 2021 as well.



The Portuguese coach has brought an attractive attacking style to Lille. In fact, the club has the fourth-most goals in the French top flight (56) and averages 60.2% possession in league play. This is only a fraction lower than powerhouse <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a>.



PHOTO: IMAGO / sportphoto24

Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and West Ham could be set to battle it out for Paulo Fonseca, the current manager of Lille, this summer.

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