Ben Guest
It may only be October, but Real Madrid are thought to be ready to hit the panic button and fire Julen Lopetegui after the European champions extended their winless run to five games this weekend.
Lopetegui only took over at the Bernabeu in July having famously being sacked by Spain on the eve of the World Cup after announcing his intentions to become Real Madrid manager.
However, it has been a miserable start to the season for Los Blancos, who are sitting in seventh in La Liga and are without a win in five games in all competitions, and reports today suggest that the Spaniard’s sacking is imminent.
Of course, as is always the case on the ever turning managerial merry-go-round, no sooner has a manager been linked with losing his job, attentions turn to who will be his replacement, and a number of managers who are very familiar with the Premier League are among the favourites.
So far, former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is the short favourite at odds of 6/5, with the Italian currently out of work following his sacking by the Stamford Bridge club this summer.
It is being reported that Real Madrid B manager Santiago Solari could be set to take over in the short term, and he is 6/4 to take the hot seat, while the third favourite is former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who is priced at 5/1.
Like Conte, Wenger is also out of work following his departure from the Emirates this summer, and he recently revealed that he was close to making his return to the game.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti is the fourth favourite at 10/1, while former Madrid boss and current Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is a 20/1 shot as the fifth favourite.
Mourinho is thought to be clinging onto his job at Old Trafford after a disappointing start to the Premier League season, although with over 18 months left to run on his deal at United, it would cost Ed Woodward in excess of £20 million to sack him, so any approach by the 13-time Champions League winners could provide some welcome financial relief.
Journalist Neil Custis of the Sun recently suggested that Mourinho would be a target for Los Blancos as he still maintains a good relationship with Real president Florentino Perez, and could be joined by Eden Hazard, who has said he would like to work with Mourinho once again.