Former Sheffield Wednesday coach Carlos Carvalhal reportedly in talks with Brazilian giants

The Portuguese, who spearheaded back-to-back playoff qualifications with the Owls in 2015 and 2016, was well on-course to take homeland club Rio Ave to their best-ever finish before the suspension of football.

The provincial club sat behind only perennial challengers FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Braga in the table with 10 games to go, four points off a European qualification place.

But after a link with big-spending Red Bull Bragatino fell through earlier this year, it seems Carvalhal’s efforts have attracted an approach from Vasco da Gama.

“We are in conversations with Brazilians and foreigners, including the Portuguese Carlos Carvalhal,” said Leven Siano, a presidential candidate at the club.

“It is quite possible that we have a European coach. In addition to nutrition, psychology or sports medicine, philosophy in football is what really makes the difference in getting a team to play with greater intensity.”

Carvalhal, whose contract at Rio Ave ends in the summer, has previously spoken of his desire to rejoin an English club next season.

In a recent social media question-and-answer session Carvalhal hinted that he would like one day to make a Hillsborough return after his December 2016 departure.

In August he said: “I like Sheffield Wednesday. I’m an Owl in this moment. When I arrived at Swansea, I mentioned that they had contact with me in the past, and the people said that I was talking with them [while still at Wednesday] and was preparing to go. It is a complete lie.

“I just want to inform all the Sheffield Wednesday fans that after the first season I was a free manager, because I sign all the time for just one season. I had invitations to go to the Championship to good clubs, and one invitation to go to the Premier League.

“I hope that next season we can go back to England again because that is what really I wish.”