Reports: Inter to appoint Gasperini

Inter Milan are set to name Gian Piero Gasperini as their new coach in the next few hours, according to media reports in Italy.

Gasperini will replace Leonardo, who is expected to accept an offer to become the new sporting director at Paris St Germain.

The 53-year-old Gasperini will become Inter’s fourth coach in a year, following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, the dismissal of Rafael Benitez back in December and Leonardo’s imminent move to PSG.

Gasperini led Genoa to promotion from the second division in 2007 and qualification for the Europa League with a fifth-placed finish in Serie A in 2009.

He was sacked by Genoa in November.

Gasperini was just one of the numerous candidates Inter had targeted since announcing that Brazilian tactician Leonardo could leave the club earlier this month, despite being under contract with the Nerazzurri for a further season.

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa turned down a move to Inter while Sinisa Mihajlovic opted to remain at Fiorentina.

Inter had considered former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas as a possible candidate, but later ruled him out due to the Portuguese’s 15 million euros release fee.

Villas-Boas joined Chelsea earlier this week.