Mauricio Pochettino is once again top of Real Madrid’s wishlist to replace sacked coach Julen Lopetegui, who was fired late on Monday night.
Lopetegui was a dead man walking before Sunday’s 5-1 El Clasico humiliation at the Nou Camp after Real’s worst start to a season in 72 years, with the club currently lying ninth in La Liga after the former Spain coach’s 139 days in charge.
Real said in a statement: “The Real Madrid board met today (Tuesday) and decided to renounce coach Julen Lopetegui’s contract with the club.
“The board feels there has been a disproportionate difference between the squad Real Madrid possesses... and the results obtained until now.”
The club added that talks with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte have broken down over the possibility of the Italian taking charge.
That leaves the 13-time European champions looking to prise Pochettino away from Tottenham after failing to land him following the departure of Zinedine Zidane in May.
But they will face a ferocious battle from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for the Argentinian’s services.
However, the Spanish giants will be encouraged by Poch’s frustration with new stadium delays and transfer inactivity over the off-season.
Ahead of Monday’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City, Poch said: “My feeling is the worst I’ve had in the five years I’ve been here.
“I’m disappointed we’re still waiting for the new stadium when the expectation was to be there at the start of the season.
“Many things happened in the [off-season] that put me not in my best mood.”