Arsenal have included Shanghai SIPG manager Vitor Pereira on their list of targets to replace Freddie Ljungberg, according to reports.
The Gunners are searching for a permanent manager after deciding to sack Unai Emery last week and appoint Ljungberg as interim boss.
Several candidates have been linked with taking up the permanent role including Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers, former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri,Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently at Napoli, and Mauricio Pochettino, who was sacked by Tottenham last month.
But according to The Times, Pereira is a candidate who is ‘of interest’ to Arsenal and Everton, who are looking for a new manager after sacking Marco Silva on Thursday evening.
The 51-year-old has won two league titles with Porto, the Greek top flight with Olympiacos, and the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG last year.
Pereira has also managed Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Fenerbahce and 1860 Munich.
Meanwhile, Allegri has dealt a blow to Arsenal’s hopes of securing him as a replacement within the next few weeks by revealing that he will not take another job until the end of the season.
Asked when he intends to return to management, Allegri told ESPN: ‘In June. I don’t know if you can call it a sabbatical or not.
‘Giovanni [Branchini – Allegri’s agent] and I immediately came to that decision. As soon as the relationship with Juventus came to an end the decision was to take a year out.’
