Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is a contender to replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, if they decide to move on from the Italian.
Chelsea’s hierarchy are far from happy with how their season has panned out under Sarri, and although they have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to this weekend – the pressure is on.
Sarri’s men have lost five of their last ten games, and their form has seen them drop out of the top-four and they have huge work to do to get back into the Champions League places.
Sarri has also clashed with the club’s bosses over his use of Eden Hazard and Callum Hudson-Odoi – both of whom look set to depart the club this summer.
It is therefore no surprise to see Chelsea already looking at potential successor, should they decide that Sarri is not the right men for them.
Zidane, who distanced himself from the Manchester United job following Jose Mourinho’s departure late last year, is believed to be attracted by the prospect of working in London.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been a long-term target for Chelsea too, and he will also be in the conversation – if it is needed, whilst it is also believed the club would ideally like to include Frank Lampard – currently at Derby – in their next management team.
Sarri is the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave and is odds-on at 1/2, and Zidane is favourite to replace him at just 6/4 with Betway.
Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “Zinedine Zidane was very successful during his time at Real Madrid and with Maurizio Sarri’s head on the chopping block, we’ve seen strong support for the Frenchman replacing him at Chelsea.
“The World Cup winner is the clear 6/4 favourite to take charge of the Stamford Bridge outfit, with rumours surfacing that he’s ready to get back into management.
“It’s perhaps telling that he’s the only candidate being backed with all the other leading contenders friendless in the market, though we have seen a bit of backing for Luis Enrique at 20/1.”