QUOTE
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk are weighing up a big-money attempt to lure AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri to the Donbass Arena, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The Italian sports daily reported that Shakhtar, currently managed by Mircea Lucescu, are prepared to offer Allegri a four-year contract worth €6 million-a-year.
That would more than double the 45-year-old's current salary at Milan, reportedly €2.5 million-a-year, with his current deal due to expire in June 2014.
Allegri won the 2010-11 Serie A title in his first season in charge at Milan. However, after the loss of star players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva in the summer, the Rossoneri endured a tough start to this campaign, with the then-availability of Pep Guardiola sparking speculation over his future.
But with Guardiola since having joined Bayern Munich and Allegri leading a resurgent Milan to the Serie A top three and a 2-0 first-leg lead over Barcelona in the Champions League, the former Cagliari coach appears to be in a stronger position to decide his future, whether that is at Milan or elsewhere.
Lucescu, who has led Shakhtar to six league titles and the UEFA Cup during his nine-year tenure at the Donbass Arena, will be 68 this summer.
The Italian sports daily reported that Shakhtar, currently managed by Mircea Lucescu, are prepared to offer Allegri a four-year contract worth €6 million-a-year.
That would more than double the 45-year-old's current salary at Milan, reportedly €2.5 million-a-year, with his current deal due to expire in June 2014.
Allegri won the 2010-11 Serie A title in his first season in charge at Milan. However, after the loss of star players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva in the summer, the Rossoneri endured a tough start to this campaign, with the then-availability of Pep Guardiola sparking speculation over his future.
But with Guardiola since having joined Bayern Munich and Allegri leading a resurgent Milan to the Serie A top three and a 2-0 first-leg lead over Barcelona in the Champions League, the former Cagliari coach appears to be in a stronger position to decide his future, whether that is at Milan or elsewhere.
Lucescu, who has led Shakhtar to six league titles and the UEFA Cup during his nine-year tenure at the Donbass Arena, will be 68 this summer.
It's a curious situation. Up till January majority of supporters nearly wanted him dead, never mind fired. Now he's definitely recovered that situation and clearly has a great deal more support such is our current resurgence.