Zinedine Zidane open to joining Manchester United; wants 25-year-old defender as first January signing at Old Trafford: Reports

Manchester United supporters will be excited to learn that former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is reportedly open to taking over from Erik ten Hag if the latter gets sacked midway through the season. The three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid has expressed an interest in coming to work with the Red Devils, according to reports from Football365.

Ten Hag is under immense pressure to keep his job at United after the club made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. They are perched upon the lowly 14th position in the standings at the moment.

Many reports have tipped Ten Hag to keep the job at least till the January window, by when the owners of the club will get a fair idea of where this campaign is going. If Zidane does decide to come, it can be good news for Manchester United's supporters.

Zidane has also reportedly expressed the desire to sign Barcelona's 25-year-old Jules Kounde if he does get to Old Trafford, with the French centre-back having impressed him immensely.

Kounde is currently contracted until 2027 and won the LaLiga title and the Supercopa de Espana with the Catalan giants. Transfermarkt currently value the centre-back at €55 million and Barca currently consider his untouchable and an important part of their project.

Manchester United are in the midst of a slump in the Premier League

Manchester United went into the international break playing out a goalless draw with Aston Villa in Birmingham, and have amassed a lowly eight points so far. Surprisingly, they have scored just five goals under Ten Hag this season, the joint-second-lowest in the league after Southampton's four goals.

The Red Devils have a busy round of fixtures after the international break. They will be playing against Brentford (19 October), Fenerbahce (24 October), West Ham United (27 October), and Leicester City (30 October) in a span of just 11 days. The squad's tenacity will be tested to the core in this phase.

Ten Hag kept his job at the end of last season by virtue of beating old rivals Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup in May. Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe handed him a one-year extension following that.

However, the Dutchman has looked bereft of ideas this season. His players too have let him down constantly, making him look like a man deemed for a sacking sooner rather than later.