Paper Round: Zinedine Zidane eyes Manchester United job
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 15/08/2018 at 07:31 GMT
Zinedine Zidane could replace Jose Mourinho, Paul Pogba will stay, Danny Drinkwater is wanted by Schalke and Arsenal face a restricted January transfer window.
Zinédine Zidane a quitté son poste d'entraîneur du Real Madrid
Image credit: Getty Images
Zidane eyes United job
Zinedine Zidane is considering his next move in football after stepping down as manager of Real Madrid. Zidane left the Spanish club after winning three consecutive Champions League titles and is looking towards the Premier League. Of the English clubs, he is looking particularly at Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho’s job looking the least secure.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/05/31/2346091-48820590-2560-1440.jpg)
Zidane (Real Madrid) against Barcelona
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round’s view: Zidane is used to being given a team built with considerable funds, and which has no notable weaknesses. He left Real Madrid not because of the ambition of the club, but because of the particular aims of Florentino Perez in the summer transfer window. Why he would join a club that has condemned a manager to work with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones yet again is a mystery.
Barcelona to miss out on Pogba deal
One reason for Manchester United to bring in Zidane might be that he could keep Paul Pogba at the club. Barcelona director Ariedo Braida has said that he does not think Barcelona will make a move for the 25-year-old France international this season, but said he is a, "great player." They are continuing to keep tabs on the player who has endured a fractious relationship with Jose Mourinho.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/12/2396774-49834250-2560-1440.jpg)
Paul Pogba of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round’s view: It seems that Barcelona cannot afford Pogba right now, as evidenced by their recent part-exchange offer that was swiftly rejected. It is a bit more likely that they are instead working on unsettling Pogba and United in order to make him the big signing next summer. On the other hand, Pogba’s mysterious hints could simply be a way of ensuring a new contract to earn as much as Alexis Sanchez.
Drinkwater set for move abroad
Maurizio Sarri has no intention of using Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater over the course of the season. The 28-year-old England international can only move to a foreign side or a Championship team for the season now the transfer window has closed. The one club that has expressed an interest so far is German side Schalke, who have missed out on signing his Stamford Bridge colleague Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/10/30/2197805-45913430-2560-1440.jpg)
Danny Drinkwater of Chelsea, Beni Baningime of Everton and Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea in action during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on October 25, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round’s view: Drinkwater is well down the pecking order at Chelsea after the arrival of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho, and while he might be happy to try to win back his place, he might be best served by the chance to enjoy first-team football abroad, and perhaps be more heavily involved in a side that could challenge for a Champions League place of their own.
Arsenal have little to spend in January
Unai Emery is facing restrictions on his plans to continue his overhaul of Arsenal’s squad during the January transfer window. After bringing in a number of new players, contract renewals and Mesut Ozil’s new deal, there is a need to tie down Aaron Ramsey to a longer contract. All this increases the wage bill and until a new sponsorship deal kicks in, they will have to trim the squad before adding to it.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/12/2396808-49834930-2560-1440.jpg)
Arsenal's coach Unai Emery
Image credit: Getty Images
Paper Round’s view: It is true that Arsenal have increased their wage bill significantly this season, but to suggest they will have to wait six months for any new sponsorship seems unlikely. If a particularly good deal presents itself in January, the club can presumably anticipate their new, increased sponsorship revenue and take the hit for a few months.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement