PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi confirms they ARE in talks to hire Nice boss Christophe Galtier

‘We are in talks – this is not a secret’: PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi confirms they ARE looking to hire Nice coach Christophe Galtier as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement… and says they’ve ‘never been in discussions’ with Zinedine Zidane over role

  • PSG president confirms the club are in talks with Nice boss Christophe Galtier
  • Nasser al-Khelaifi says it is ‘no secret’ that Galtier is on their shortlist of coaches
  • Nice and PSG are reportedly close to agreeing a €10million (£8.6m) for Galtier
  • But PSG cannot announce the appointment until they officially sack Pochettino
  • Al-Khelaifi also confirmed Zinedine Zidane was never in the running to take over

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi on Tuesday said he was in talks with Nice to hire coach Christophe Galtier to replace Mauricio Pochettino at the French champions.

French news outlet L’Equipe on Monday reported Galtier was being lined up to take over at PSG, but that the announcement of his appointment would have to wait until Argentine Pochettino’s departure was finalised.

‘We have a shortlist of coaches, we are in talks with Nice, this is not a secret,’ Qatari Al-Khelaifi told Le Parisien in a detailed interview published on Tuesday.

PSG cannot announce the appointment until they officially sack Mauricio Pochettino

PSG confirm the club are in talks with Nice for Christophe Galtier (left) to replace Mauricio Pochettino (right) as manager

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi says it is 'no secret' that Galtier is in line to take over as boss

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi says it is ‘no secret’ that Galtier is in line to take over as boss

The club’s current manager Pochettino, who was appointed 18 months ago, came under pressure having failed to help PSG break new ground in the Champions League last season, after they were eliminated in the last-16.

Galtier joined Nice ahead of last season having led former club Lille to their first Ligue 1 title since 2011 in the previous campaign.

The two French sides are said to have been in negotiations over the past few days and hope the process will accelerate in the coming days. 

The Frenchman led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21, pipping his potential employers

The Frenchman led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21, pipping his potential employers

PSG hope to announce Galtier’s appointment on Thursday with the two clubs close to an agreement that will see the Parisian side pay £8.6m to buy the manager out of his contract in the south of France, according to L’Equipe. 

Negotiations between the Parisian side and the Argentine manager’s agents are ongoing, with the former Tottenham boss reportedly set to receive €15m (£12.8m) in compensation. 

The sum is owed to Pochettino and four members of his backroom staff – Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino. 

Until the two sides agree on the terms of their split, PSG are unable to announce Pochettino’s successor. 

The Ligue 1 champions are unable to announce Galtier until they officially sack Pochettino

The Ligue 1 champions are unable to announce Galtier until they officially sack Pochettino

Al-Khelaifi also confirmed Zinedine Zidane (pictured) was never in the running to take over

Al-Khelaifi also confirmed Zinedine Zidane (pictured) was never in the running to take over 

However, even if the terms of his contract still are not finalised Galtier is expected to take charge at the Camp des Loges on July 4 when PSG return to training in preparation to defend their league title. 

Al-Khelaifi also appeared to put an end to the constant speculation surrounding France great Zinedine Zidane, dismissing reports that the club had been in talks with the 1998 World Cup winner about becoming their new head coach.

‘Many clubs are interested in hiring him, including national teams, but no, we have never been in discussions with him,’ he said.