Sao Paulo have made former Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella a prime target for their manager's position, which is now vacant, the club's football vice president has said.
But a deal could be stymied by the 60-year-old's interest in joining an undisclosed English Premier League club, Ataide Gil said on Tuesday, reports Xinhua.
According to Gil, the six-time Brazilian Serie A champions sought talks with Sabella's representatives after Muricy Ramalho's resignation on Monday.
"(But) we found out that he is in talks with a club in England," Gil said.
Former Internacional and Fluminense manager Abel Braga is also in the running for the job.
Gil added that an approach had also been made to Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg boss Andre Villas-Boas.
"I spoke with Andre yesterday. He said that he can't leave now because he is committed to Zenit until December," Gil said.
Sabella has taken time off coaching after guiding Argentina to last year's World Cup final.
A former midfielder who was capped eight times for Argentina, Sabella represented Brazilian top-flight club Gremio in the 1980s.
His playing career also included spells with Leeds and Sheffield United in England.
