Paris Saint-Germain and Nice are close to an agreement that would see manager Christophe Galtier join the Ligue 1 champions for around €10million (£8.6m), according to reports.
The 55-year-old Frenchman marshalled Nice to a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 last campaign and is reportedly the leading candidate after Zinedine Zidane dropped out of the running.
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.
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.
The French publication claims that the official announcement of the appointment is being held until PSG formally confirm the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, which they hope will take place before Thursday.
PSG reclaimed the Ligue 1 title from Lille last season under Pochettino but their woeful Champions League campaign, in which they were knocked out by Real Madrid in the last 16, sees him head towards the exit door.
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.
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.
Galtier’s top achievement as manager was leading Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21, the only time PSG failed to win the division during the last five seasons.
His appointment would provide a reunion with new PSG football advisor Luis Campos, who worked alongside Galtier at Lille between 2017 and 2020.
