Thiago Motta is suddenly the new favourite to take over from Vincenzo Italiano at Serie A side Spezia, according to Sky Sport Italia.
Gianluca Di Marzio claims Italo-Brazilian is the primary candidate for the role at the Stadio Picco.
Spezia need a new coach after Italiano left to accept the Fiorentina bench, and various options mentioned included Rolando Maran and Eugenio Corini.
However, Thiago Motta has emerged as the surprise pick and it would be only his third coaching role.
So far, the former midfielder who turns 39 next month has only coached the PSG Under-19 team and had a very brief spell on the Genoa bench.
He managed just 10 games from October to December 2019, resulting in two wins, three draws and five defeats.
Like Italiano, he favours a 4-3-3 tactical formation.
Thiago Motta spent some of his playing career in Italy with Genoa in 2008-09 and Inter until January 2012.
He also played for Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, hanging up his boots in 2018.
#Spezia, ora è #ThiagoMotta in pole per la panchina https://t.co/WDQpmEg0Bm
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) July 3, 2021