Pochettino… Wenger… Allegri… Conte… the runners and riders are positioning themselves ready for a possible approach from Real Madrid.
It would appear that the current Tottenham Hotspur incumbent is Los Blancos’ preferred option, but whoever eventually signs on the dotted line will need to get to work immediately.
That’s because there are a number of issues already pending…
Neymar
It’s the worst kept secret in the football world. Real want Neymar and if truth be told, he wants them too.
Don’t believe the tosh that he’s happy in Paris because there have been far too many leaks from well-placed sources for this to be a red herring.
The only question is whether Real can get it over the line this summer.
PSG, if they play ball, and it’s a very big if, will command upwards of 250m euros.
Given that the Brazilian won’t be in a position to negotiate until the end of the World Cup at the very earliest, the window for getting him on board and integrated is very slim indeed.
New goalkeeper
Zinedine Zidane really dug his heels in during January when the club tried to sign Kepa from Athletic Club against his wishes.
The Frenchman stood right behind Keylor Navas, as he’d done on a number of previous occasions, in the only real game of brinksmanship that occurred during his tenure on the Real bench.
Despite more than proving his worth, Navas doesn’t appear to have won over the board who are still courting Thibaut Courtois and David De Gea.
Latterly, Roma’s Alisson has also come into the reckoning.
With the Real squad also backing the Costa Rican, a new custodian could upset the equilibrium in the dressing room.
- del Bosque
- Queiroz
- Camacho
- Remón
- Luxemburgo
- Pellegrini
- Mourinho
- Ancelotti
- Benitez
Zidane is the first Madrid manager under Florentino Perez to leave before being fired
Vinicius
Whether or not Neymar arrives, one Brazilian will definitely be wearing the all white in 2018/19 and that’s Vinicius Jr.
The wunderkind has already expressed his surprise at Zidane’s resignation as he was looking forward to working with him.
Regardless, Flamengo’s current top scorer won’t be coming to Spain to make up the numbers, even at just 18 years of age.
It could be January before Vinicius finally pulls on the jersey in earnest, given that Flamengo want him to see out the Brazilian season, which finishes in December.
That’s another attacker to add to the mix.
Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema
BBC. Once untouchable, the trio only played their first minutes together as a three in the Champions League final.
Benzema’s poor form, Bale’s injuries and keeping Cristiano fresh all contributed to a lack of minutes on the pitch at the same time.
Both Ronaldo and Bale, in the wake of the win against Liverpool, came out and suggested that their time with Los Blancos may be at an end.
The Welshman’s future can be sorted quickly given that he’s not in Russia with the national team, ditto Benzema.
Things will be much less straightforward with the Portuguese who has already had his request for a raised salary and signing on fee refused.
Ceding control of transfers?
Perhaps the most contentious decision of all is that one whereby the new coach could be forced to cede control of transfers.
From next season onwards, it seems that the coach will… coach, and the board will decide what players the team needs.
The pursuit of Neymar and a new keeper at least hint at the same.
Pochettino has autonomy at Tottenham, and relinquishing that at Real is unlikely to sit well with him - or whomever else takes over from Zidane.
