Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly made a U-turn on their decision to appoint Zinedine Zidane as their new manager.
The 49-year-old has been considered as one of the favourites to take over in Paris since stepping down from his Real Madrid post for a second time in the summer of 2021.
Zidane was originally thought to be holding out for the France job when Didier Deschamps leaves the national team, but the latter will lead Les Bleus into the upcoming World Cup.
Reports on Thursday suggested that Zidane had agreed a deal to replace Mauricio Pochettino as PSG manager, with the Argentine's sacking expected to be made official in the coming days.
However, Zidane's advisor emphatically denied that such an agreement was in place, and PSG are still considering other candidates for their soon-to-be vacant post.
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According to Foot Mercato, the arrival of Luis Campos as the club's new football advisor will see PSG instead prioritise a move for current Nice manager Christophe Galtier instead of Zidane.
The report adds that PSG have failed to reach a full agreement with Zidane despite months of negotiations, and the three-time Champions League-winning coach is not Campos's first choice to take over.
Campos arrived at the Parc des Princes in the upstairs role earlier this week and is seemingly set to replace sporting director Leonardo, who could leave the club alongside Pochettino.
Galtier worked alongside Campos at Lille before the latter departed in December 2020, and the Aiglons coach steered Les Dogues to the 2020-21 Ligue 1 title ahead of his switch to the Allianz Riviera.
The 55-year-old helped Nice achieve a fifth-placed finish in the top flight last term and has a contract with the club until 2024, leading director of football Julien Fournier to send a stark warning to PSG.
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"If Paris-Saint-Germain want Christophe Galtier, they mustn't wait too long, otherwise it will be more complicated," Fournier told the press.
"He's under contract, that's the reality. So he's more likely to be at Nice than not to be. It's very basic but it's very true. After that, if Paris-Saint-Germain comes in for him... it's a decision that I obviously won't take alone.
"When this type of club comes to get one of your players or your coach, it's hard to say 'no'... Each passing day makes PSG's task more difficult, because we have to move forward with next season. If they want him, they must not delay."
Meanwhile, Pochettino is expected to depart PSG despite regaining the Ligue 1 title with four games to spare last term, as well as winning the Trophee des Champions and winning the Coupe de France since joining in 2021.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has supposedly already been informed that his days in Paris are numbered after last term's Champions League collapse at the hands of Real Madrid in the last-16 stage.
Ben Knapton
