Santos are interested in replacing current head coach Marcelo Fernandes with Cristovão Borges, fired by Fluminense two weeks ago, according to Lancenet.
Santos bosses have been considering several other targets including Dorival Júnior and Vagner Mancini, but Borges is said to be the only candidate who does not divide opinion on the board and also fits into the salary range they are willing to pay.
Fernandes, who has been in charge for less than a month at the Estádio Vila Belmiro, would most likely remain in position until the end of the state championship campaign and then stay on as an assistant to Borges with no change in his current salary.
