Real Madrid hope to lure Wenger to replace Mourinho

- Daily Mail

Real Madrid have made Arsene Wenger their top target to replace Jose Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

The Frenchman has turned down moves to Madrid in favour of staying in north London in the past, but club president Florentino Perez believes he can persuade Wenger to move to La Liga this time around.

Mourinho, who has previously managed Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, has endured a dismal season. Despite leading Real to the league title last season, Los Blancos are 15 points behind leaders Barcelona and seven behind cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Wenger has also fallen below his own high standards, with Arsenal sitting in sixth in the Premier League.

But Perez, who is seeking re-election as president of the Spanish giants this summer, is hoping Wenger will take him up on a renewed approach in the summer, according to the Sunday People.

Having been at Arsenal for nearly 17 years, Perez believes the Gunners may be willing to part ways with the long-serving Wenger.

Arsenal’s only remaining hopes of bringing an eight-year trophy drought to an end is winning the FA Cup or the Champions League, and tensions have grown among some fans with Wenger battling to finish in the top four.

Should Wenger decide to leave the Emirates for the Bernabeu, Real are likely to match his £7million annual salary.

Ligue 1 hopefuls Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring Wenger, with the French side looking at the Arsenal boss as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.

Wenger recently had to rubbish reports of a potential move to Schalke, and stated he would see out the remaining 18 months of his contract with Arsenal.

In the event of Wenger’s departure, Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp would be the obvious choice to follow in his footsteps. 

The German manager led Dortmund to the Bundesliga title last season, and guided his side to qualify top of a Champions League group which consisted of Real, Manchester City and Ajax.