Veteran manager Luiz Felipe Scolari could be interested in taking charge of China's national team following the departure of Italian Marcelo Lippi, sources close to the Brazilian told Xinhua.

Scolari's press adviser, Acaz Fellegger, said the 71-year-old "would listen to an offer" if approached by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) about the vacant post.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, has been out of work since September, when he was sacked by Palmeiras just nine months after leading the club to the Brazilian Serie A title.

Earlier this month, Scolari said in an interview with Xinhua that he would be willing to return to coach at club level in China, where he enjoyed a trophy-laden spell as manager of Guangzhou Evergrande from June 2015 to November 2017.

"Scolari believes that China has good potential and good players," Fellegger said. "His team, Guangzhou, had many Chinese (national team) players. He really liked working in China and the way they treated him, and he believes in the potential of the Chinese team."

In addition to two separate spells as Brazil's boss, Scolari's decorated coaching career has included stints in charge of Portugal's national team and Chelsea.

In less than three full seasons with Evergrande, he steered the club to three league crowns, the Asian Champions League title, and the Chinese FA Cup.

Lippi resigned as China's manager on Thursday after a 1-2 defeat to Syria in their World Cup qualifier in Dubai.