It's surely now a case of 'when' not 'if' Real Madrid sack their beleaguered boss Santiago Solari following an absolutely horrific week in which the Spanish giants have been dumped out of two cup competitions, and slid a gargantuan 12 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
Barcelona condemned Real Madrid to not one but two damaging defeats at the Bernabeu, first in the Copa del Rey and then the league, before Ajax rocked up at the Spanish capital and proceeded to hammer the Champions League holders 4-1 on their own patch.
Real Madrid now have nothing to play for this season, with Solari's future subsequently in severe doubt. Former Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho, now unemployed of course, has been hotly tipped to return for a second spell, as has Zinedine Zidane who surprisingly left the club last summer.
However, Real have made Jurgen Klopp their number one managerial target, as reported by The Independent, while the club are also believed to be keen on Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and Juventus manager Max Allegri.
The publication states that while Solari is unlikely to be sacked right now, he will be dispatched in the summer once the season comes to a close, with Real keen to pursue Klopp, who has previously shunned their advances.
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool fans have not reacted kindly to the reports…
He would never join that club, he has morals. If he ever left us he would manage Germany, Dortmund or Mainz again, or someone like Napoli, and when he does go, which will be a long way away, I will be supporting that club from afar (@OminousOx)
Even if Jürgen Klopp was unemployed I'd put my house on the fact that he would turn down their job offer. Real Madrid are so NOT a Jürgen Klopp football club. (@kloppite75)
Why would a self respecting man like Jurgen Klopp want to go to a toxic club like that (@lewisswltrs)
If that where to happen im sacking off (so called premier league) football all together (@pompey_red)
If he went there my faith in humans would be broken (@EdenGeorge17)
Whereas other supporters have simply laughed off the reports...
Liverpool should shortlist Sergio Ramos for their next janitor opening (@BoooYorkCity)
More chance of me winning the lottery (@PrancingReus)
And I’ve made Liz Hurley mine (@garymac21)
Klopp, whose contract runs out in 2022, may not have yet got his hands on any silverware at Liverpool, however he's hoping that changes this season with the Reds currently fighting it out for Premier League and Champions League glory.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph reports that the German gaffer "will not entertain offers from Real Madrid to resolve the Bernabeu crisis should the Spanish giants seek to lure him from Anfield this summer".
