Milan have fired Paulo Fonseca, releasing an unsentimentally brief statement on Monday to end their head coach's six-month reign. 

Milan drew 1-1 with Roma on Sunday night to leave them eighth in Serie A - a whacking 14 points off Atalanta in top spot - and eight off the Champions League spots.

That proved the last straw for US investment group RedBird Capital, who bought the club in August, and they cut ties with their Portuguese manager first thing the next morning. 

The entirety of the club's 32-word statement read: 'AC Milan announces that Paulo Fonseca has been relieved from his duties as Head Coach of the Men's First Team. 

'The Club extends its gratitude to Paulo for his great professionalism and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours.'

And, in the same expeditious spirit, they have wasted no time identifying a replacement for Fonseca with another Portuguese on their radar - according to The Athletic.

Sergio Conceicao is reportedly on the brink of being announced as the new Milan manager.

The former Porto coach has been without a job since he left the Portuguese side over the summer. 

The 50-year-old’s seven years in charge of Porto saw him win 11 trophies, including three league titles.

Conceicao has since been linked with a number of jobs - including the post at West Ham before Julen Lopetegui saved his job with a victory against Wolves on December 9.

But Milan are set to swoop in and seal a deal for Conceicao with a big clash against Juventus on January 3 fast approaching. 

Milan also have plenty of work to do in Europe as they currently sit 12th in the Champions League league phase table in the knockout play-offs spots.