The managerial merry-go-round at France’s most wealthy club is taking a spin and the 2022 Ligue 1 champions are warming the hot seat for a new man.
The departure of head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been on the cards ever since Paris Saint-Germain crashed out of the 2022 Champions League to Real Madrid at the Round of 16 stage, and reports have been circulating that an agreement has been reached to show Poch the door. The 50-year-old former Tottenham manager is due to leave with one year left on his contract and the club’s owners are ready to take the financial hit.
It could have been so different as Pochettino’s star-studded side held a two-goal advantage over Los Blancos with just half an hour remaining of their tie, but the La Liga side have made a habit of stinging sides at the death and that was pretty much the end of Poch, who had led the side to the 2021 Coupe de France and the 2022 Ligue 1 title.
The PSG sporting director Luis Campos has been tasked with the challenge to recruit Zidane by the club’s Qatari owners but the appointment may have hit the skids with the former Real Madrid manager seemingly not entirely sure he wants to work at the Parc des Princes.
Zizou is an Olympique Marseilles fan and his move to Paris would not sit comfortably with either set of supporters, but he is a proven winner as he’s the first head coach to lift the Champions League three times in succession during his stint as boss of Real Madrid.
The European Crown is what the owners crave and they believe Zizou is the man to land it for them. Only a few days ago it seemed like his arrival at the club was only a matter of time, but more recent reports in France suggest that Nice manager Christophe Galtier is the new favourite.
Galtier led Nice to fifth place in Ligue 1 last term and that’s a finish which may underwhelm the expectant PSG fans. And no matter how good his Ligue 1 2022 results were at Nice or would be in Paris, Galtier has no experience among the very elite of Europe.
But rumours circulating around the capital city suggest that Zizou’s arrival at the Parc des Princes is not yet near to completion and the former Bleus legend is apparently keen to take over as manager of the national side, as and when the current head coach Didier Deschamps moves on.
There is some way to go with this story and we’ll keep watching it here at SBOTOP. Galtier became the favourite over the past 24 hours and Campos is said to favour his appointment, but things change quickly and Zizou remains the owners’ main target.
If he is to take over the reigns, ZZ is reported to have said he wants complete control over transfer activity and he has already outlined two of three players he is keen to bring to the club, one name linked being midfielder Paul Pogba.
Manchester United is beginning to evolve under new manager Erik ten Hag and the enigmatic Frenchman is finally on his way out of the Old Trafford door. Zizou feels it is important for the champions to sign some more French stars and he has added Barcelona wide-man Ousmane Dembele to his shopping list, as well as Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.
Pogba is the most likely to arrive, firstly because he is not wanted at Old Trafford and the Red Devils are resigned to losing the player they bought for £89-M back in 2016. He plays well for France but has been a poor investment for United and Zidane is said to be happy to take a risk on him.
Dembele would be an ideal replacement for the out-of-contract Angel Di Maria and that move may be smoothed if the Blaugrana are happy to consider a swap deal involving the two players.
And Kounde would be a good replacement for Sergio Ramos who had an injury interrupted first campaign in Paris and is likely to make limited appearances next term. But Kounde has plenty of admirers in Europe’s top leagues and Sevilla will demand top dollar for their man.
Kylian Mbappe’s decision to stay at PSG surprised many fans and pundits around European football and, with Lionel Messi still at the club, the Ligue 1 2022 betting odds will back the Parisiens again next year.
And if Zizou adds two or three big stars then who knows, European glory could be just around the corner. But the PSG owners still have work to do to land their man.
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