Inter approach to Passarella

Although Gianluca Vialli has been linked with the vacant coaching job at Internazionale, the Milan side have confirmed their interest in the Uruguay coach, Daniel Passarella, to replace Marcello Lippi at the Serie A club.

Although Gianluca Vialli has been linked with the vacant coaching job at Internazionale, the Milan side have confirmed their interest in the Uruguay coach, Daniel Passarella, to replace Marcello Lippi at the Serie A club.

In a statement issued on Inter's official website, the club said that their director, Giacinto Faccheti, was in Argentina "to verify the availability ofPassarella".

Passarella, the former Argentina coach, played for Inter for four seasons in the early 1980s and quickly emerged as favourite to take over as coach of the troubled Italian club after Lippi's dismissal on Tuesday.

Passarella is preparing Uruguay to face Argentina in a World Cup qualifier and has refused to comment on speculation linking him with the post. Inter will have to negotiate with the Uruguayan Football Association if they want to appoint him.

The Inter president, Massimo Moratti, has promised toannounce the appointment of a new coach on Monday.

The former Chelsea manager Vialli is thought to be another possible target, perhaps working with Roberto Mancini, who is general manager at Lazio but was absent from the Serie A champions' bench for last Sunday's opening match against Atalanta. Mancini has refused to comment on any link-up with Vialli.

One obvious problem should Inter want to hire Vialli is that he lacks the necessary coaching qualifications, which means he could not take charge of a Serie A club. But Mancini, who played with Vialli at Sampdoria, passed his coaching exams in June and could immediately step in at the San Siro with Vialli among his back-room staff until he obtains his coaching qualifications.

Andreas Brehme looks set to become coach of his former club Kaiserslautern, replacing Otto Rehhagel, who resigned on Sunday. Brehme apparently agreed terms with the club at talks on Thursday night. The former Germany international is likely to retain Reinhard Stumpf as assistant coach.