Massimiliano Allegri is preparing to take on his first managerial role outside of Italy, according to Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini.
Allegri, 52, has been out of work since leaving Juventus at the end of last season.
He led the club to five successive Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia wins and is one of the most sought-after free managerial agents in Europe.
Manchester United and Arsenal have been heavily linked with the Italian in the past, though he is yet to take on a role outside of his homeland.
And speculation Allegri will move to a Premier League club is set to increase after Giulini's latest comments.
Allegri managed Cagliari between 2008 and 2010 and Giulini offered him the chance to come back to the Sardinian club earlier this year - only to be told he is preparing to move abroad with his next role.
“I made a bit of a mad phone call towards the end of January, offering Allegri the job, knowing full well it was going to be impossible," Giulini told Sky Sport Italia.
“Massimiliano told me his next adventure will be abroad, even if he was fascinated by the proposal of leading Cagliari during our centenary year.
“I knew even before making the phone call that it was going to be improbable.”
It is difficult to predict where Allegri could be on the move to, as many of the roles he has recently been linked with are no longer available.
Arsenal appointed Mikel Arteta as Unai Emery's replacement last December and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has led Manchester United on a formidable run of form in 2020, despite a shaky start to the season
Despite this, Allegri remains linked with a Premier League move and has been learning English.
Newcastle United's prospective new Saudi owners have reportedly shortlisted him to take over from Steve Bruce at St James' Park alongisde former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
