Manchester United’s hierarchy are targeting Zinedine Zidane as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s replacement, according to reports.
Solskjaer is under intense pressure following United’s woeful run of form before the international break.
United have lost four of their last six Premier League matches and lifeless performances in the comprehensive defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City have led to calls for Solskjaer’s sacking.
Several managers have been linked with replacing Solskjaer at Old Trafford, including Brendan Rodgers, Ajax’s Erik ten Hag and Antonio Conte, who joined Spurs past week.
But according to reports, United are now making plans to appoint Zidane as Solskjaer’s successor.
The report claims that Zidane is ‘unsure’ about taking the job but United’s hierarchy are ‘hopeful’ he can be convinced by the fact two of his former players at Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane – are already part of his squad.
Zidane remains out of work having left Real Madrid at the end of last season.
It’s understood that the 49-year-old, who won two La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies during his time at Madrid, is keen on becoming the head coach of France’s national team when Didier Deschamps leaves the role.
In an open letter after leaving Madrid in May, Zidane accused Madrid’s president Florentino Perez of undermining him.
‘I am not abandoning ship and I am not tired of coaching,’ Zidane wrote.
‘I am going because I feel that the club no longer gives me the trust I need and doesn’t offer me the support needed to build something in the mid and long term. Over the last few months, I would have liked my relationship with the club and the president to have been a bit different to that of other managers.’
Solskjaer, meanwhile, has spent the first week of the international break in Norway and expects to be in charge for United’s first game back after the international break, which is a trip to Watford next Saturday.
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