Manchester United are reportedly continuing talks with Zinedine Zidane when it comes to taking over at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman is currently out of work after leaving Real Madrid back in the summer. And, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggling, a managerial change may be on the cards.
United have lost six of their last 12 matches across all competitions.
And that simply isn’t good enough, especially after the club snapped up the likes of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer transfer window.
As a result, United are apparently continuing to hold talks over the possible appointment of Zidane.
Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida has claimed they’re continuing negotiations with the 49-year-old, who is currently a free agent.
However, According to Express Sport these four issues the Red Devils have when it comes to hiring the Real Madrid icon.
1. Reluctant to sack Solskjaer
Not everybody at United feels they need a managerial change.
Some members of the board do, hence the speculation, but others feel Solskjaer deserves more time to turn the situation around.
Ed Woodward and John Murtough are in the second camp, with the pair both keen for Solskjaer to keep his job at the current moment in time.
And, without wanting to state the obvious, there’s only one role up for grabs.
United can only appoint Zidane if they sack Solskjaer and, as of yet, they haven’t pulled the trigger.
2. He prefers the France job
It’s been widely reported that Zidane is actually holding out for the France job.
That’s a role that has been occupied by Didier Deschamps ever since he replaced Laurent Blanc back in 2012.
At the moment there’s no signs Deschamps will leave his post with the France national team.
Yet while that could work in United’s favour, Zidane seems hellbent on taking over from his former team-mate.
And that’s another obstacle the Red Devils have when it comes to bringing the 49-year-old in as a replacement for Solskjaer.
3. Zidane is in no rush
Zidane is also in no rush to return to management.
When he left Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, he wanted a couple of years to recharge his batteries.
However, Zidane ended up making a blockbuster return less than a year later after Los Blancos axed Santiago Solari.
Now, the 49-year-old is not desperate to head back.
He feels he’s owed this time off and is currently happy spending time with his family. With that the case, it gives United an issue.
4. Lack of experience
Another problem with Zidane is his lack of experience.
That shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. After all, Pep Guardiola won the treble in his first season at Barcelona having previously learned his trade with the club’s academy.
However, Zidane has just Real Madrid on his CV.
Sure, it was a difficult job. It always is at a club so happy to sack managers over the years under Florentino Perez and other presidents.
But it means there are sections of the United board who are bound to be hesitant. Madrid had already won before Zidane’s appointment but here, on these shores, he’d be taking over a side whose last trophy came under Jose Mourinho back in May 2017.