Bayern Munich have reportedly earmarked former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane as their number one candidate to take over from Thomas Tuchel.
Eyebrows were raised when the Bayern board opted to sack Julian Nagelsmann in favour of hiring Tuchel last spring, and the hierarchy's decision has not been vindicated.
Tuchel saw out Bayern's triumphant 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign, but in his first full season in charge, the ex-Chelsea boss could end the year without a single trophy to his name.
On account of back-to-back defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Bochum, Bayern are eight points behind the former team at the top of the Bundesliga table, meaning that their streak of 11 successive top-flight titles is seemingly destined to come to an end.
Bayern are also facing a 1-0 deficit in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Lazio, and they have also experienced disappointment in the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in the current campaign.
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Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has insisted Tuchel's position is not in any immediate danger, but the erstwhile Borussia Dortmund coach is unlikely to survive the summer if the Reds do end the season without a single piece of silverware.
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Zidane is currently the priority target for Bayern, who have already contacted the Frenchman's camp to gauge his interest in taking over.
Zidane is approaching the three-year mark without a job in football, having stepped down as Real Madrid boss for the second time at the end of the 2020-21 season, since when he has reportedly been holding out for the France job.
However, with Didier Deschamps recently penning a contract extension until the end of the 2026 World Cup, Zidane will need to refine his search if he is to jump back into management at the earliest opportunity.
The report adds that it is uncertain whether the 51-year-old would accept the job if it were offered to him midway through the season, though, and he is still believed to harbour ambitions of managing his national team.
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Following an esteemed career as a player, Zidane also excelled in the hotseat during two stints as Real Madrid manager, winning three successive Champions League titles in his first spell as well as two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, one Supercopa de Espana and one La Liga title.
Upon returning to the Bernabeu chair in 2019, Zidane added another La Liga crown and Supercopa de Espana accolade to his CV, and he has been named the World's Best Club Coach on two occasions.
Should the Frenchman prove unattainable, Bayern have numerous other targets to pursue, including much-coveted Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso, but Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona may also be after the Spaniard this summer.
A sensational reunion with Hansi Flick has also been mooted, but dreams of hiring soon-to-be ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are fanciful as the German prepares to take a 12-month sabbatical.
Bayern return to action at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday, before visiting Freiburg the following Friday and welcoming Lazio to the Allianz Arena for their Champions League last-16 second leg on March 5.
Ben Knapton
