Antonio Conte is top of Real Madrid’s wanted list.
Real Madrid have sounded out ex-Chelsea boss Conte about taking over with Julen Lopetegui under mounting pressure and clinging to his job ahead of their Champions League showdown with Czech side Viktoria Plzen.
But Conte would want a long term contract and Real are not convinced yet on who to appoint in the longer term.
Chelsea are watching developments closely because it could affect Conte’s severance package after he left Stamford Bridge last summer with one year left on his £9million-a-year deal.
Real Madrid are also looking at former star Guti and Santiago Solari, currently a coach at the club.
Lopetegui has vowed to fight on and said: “Results haven’t been great but we are going to turn this around.
“What I’ve learned about this club is to fight, that is the DNA of this club. That’s what we’re going to do, fight, both the players and the coaching staff.”