Real Madrid & Zinedine Zidane
Spanish news outlet AS on Sunday are prepare Real Madrid fans for life after Zinedine Zidane.
Many argue that had Zidane not been Zidane, the French boss would have been sacked much earlier this season.
Los Blancos are having a rather terrible season in La Liga, although they took a 3-1 lead in the Champions League last-tie first leg tie against PSG.
According to AS, Madrid have no plans to sack Zidane prior to the end of the season.
Real are waiting for Zizou to “decide” on his next move: which sounds like code that Madrid are hoping he makes his own decision to step aside in the summer.
Mauricio Pochettino & Jurgen Klopp
AS list three managers on Madrid’s wanted list after Zidane: Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and German manager Jogi Low.
Pochettino is the clear frontrunner from Real’s point of view. However, as AS tell their readers, “convincing Daniel Levy” to allow his manager to leave wil be hugely difficult.
After Low, he’s under contract with Germany until 2020. Real realise they’d have to wait until after the World Cup in Russia to discuss Low ending his role four years early.
It’s also worth noting that Low’s name has cropped up as a possible successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Whenever that position becomes available.
And what about Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp? He’s under contract at Anfield until 2022, and he’d seem another tough target to snare from the Premier League.
What seems clear is that whichever manager Madrid could opt for, they’d have to be prepared to stump up a considerable compensation package.
Also see: Tottenham swoop for Watford’s Richarlison & Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Amazing for Liverpool: New deals for Sadio Mane & Mohamed Salah.