Former Chelsea fans' favourite Gianfranco Zola has emerged as a surprise, last-minute candidate to replace sacked Inter Milan coach Frank De Boer, reports suggested Saturday.

De Boer's sacking after a 1-0 defeat at Sampdoria last week has plunged the San Siro giants into crisis just 11 games into the season.

Newspaper reports on Saturday morning insisted Marcelino Garcia Toral, who led Villarreal to a fourth place finish in La Liga last season before being sacked in August, was the frontrunner ahead of ex-Lazio boss Stefano Pioli after both were interviewed by the club's Chinese owners Suning on Friday.

But a Sky Sport Italia television report claims Zola has come into contention because "he has close contact with the club's Chinese owners Suning".

Zola has been out of work since being sacked as coach of Qatari side Al-Arabi.

Indeed, the former Chelsea star has struggled to emulate his achievements as a player on the other side of the touchlines.

Zola resigned as coach of Watford in December 2013 after a dismal start to the season.