ALONSO LINED UP TO REPLACE ZIDANE
Reports on Friday suggested that sacking Zinedine Zidane would cost Real Madrid around £70million. But that is a price they are apparently willing to pay…
According to Mundo Deportivo, Florentino Perez decided in pre-season that Zizou’s spark had gone. More specifically, Real’s returning coach has ‘fallen into complacency’ and ‘lost the desire to win’. Christ, they only reappointed him in March. No wonder they refused to cough up for Paul Pogba.
Talk is not now of whether Zidane will stay, rather who will replace him. And this latest report suggests Perez fancies Xabi Alonso as his next sitting duck.
The former Real, Liverpool and Bayern midfielder is currently on the coaching staff at another former club, Real Sociedad. Jose Mourinho is also a a possibility, but Real swerved the ex-Man Utd boss in spring and they would probably do the same again.
Marca are also touting Max Allegri as an option for Real.
BARCA NEED TO SELL TRIO
Marca say Barcelona have also got problems. Apparently, they need to raise around £88million quid to balance the books for FFP.
So the La Liga champions are set to hold a fire sale in January. Any takers for Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti, and Arturo Vidal?
Rakitic and Umtiti have been linked with Man Utd just like 427 other players across Europe. Barca were said to be looking for around £50million for Umtiti in the summer but they’ll have to sell with a hefty discount if they want rid mid-season
LIVERPOOL EYE EX-ARSENAL STRIKER
Closer to home, Liverpool are said to be tracking PSV Eindhoven striker Donyell Malen.
The 20-year-old moved to PSV from Arsenal for less than a £1million a couple of years ago but the Eredivisie side look set to make a whopping profit if Calciomercato are to be believed.
Malen has scored 10 goals in 12 games including all five in a 5-0 win over Vitesse Arnhem last weekend. He opened his Holland account during the recent international break and is catching eyes across Europe. Apparently, including Liverpool’s.
AND THE REST
Man Utd have opened contract talks with Angel Gomes… Joao Moutinho is set to sign a new two-year contract at Wolves… Watford are set to beat Hull to Malmo striker Kevin Harletun… Thomas Meunier is frustrated at PSG… Aston Villa have set aside £20m for a new striker in January… Inter Miami are set to appoint former Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari as their first manager… Barcelona need to raise an additional £88m to balance the books for FFP.
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