Top 3 contenders to replace Julen Lopetegui as Real Madrid boss

Reports in the last 24 hours have suggested that Julen Lopetegui's short tenure at Real Madrid is set to come to an end. Lopetegui's seemingly imminent departure comes after his side has suffered one of the club's worst starts in history and are currently enduring an unprecedented three-game losing streak. Here, we will look at three of the most probable candidates to replace the embattled manager, should he be dismissed:

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#3 Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino has been a huge hit at Tottenham despite initial doubts

Pochettino is the manager that Real Madrid want the most, however the 46-year-old remains seemingly committed to Tottenham having turned down the Spanish club back in the summer. However, the Spurs boss had to endure another frustrating transfer window as he failed to sign any new players - being the first Premier League side in over two decades to do so in the process.

The north Londoners' finances will now also be tight for the foreseeable future given the cost of their new stadium. While there is an understanding that Pochettino will eventually become the Real boss, it remains to be seen just how long he decides to remain in London before making the move back abroad. At this point already in the 2018/19 campaign, the Argentine may be reluctant to depart, but there's likely to be interest on Madrid's behalf once more.

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#2 Arsene Wenger

Wenger during his final match in charge of Arsenal - a 22-year reign - against Huddersfield last season

Arsene Wenger is currently out of work after leaving Arsenal in May after 22 years in charge. The legendary manager announced this week that he was ready to return to management and Madrid will not find a better manager than Arsene at this point in the campaign.

Wenger was famously offered the Real job on multiple occasions during his tenure in north London, turning them down each time due to his loyalty to Arsenal. With the experience and poise to guide them out of their current slump, the 69-year-old would have financial backing and quality players as he'd love to win the one trophy that has eluded him as a manager: the Champions League.

#1 Antonio Conte

Conte endured a mixed time during his two-year spell in charge of Chelsea

After a hugely successful first campaign in England, it all slowly unraveled for the Italian manager last season. After blowing away the competition to win the Premier League title in 2017, things drastically changed a year later as his three-at-the-back system was often exploited by opponents and he allegedly fell out with a number of the first-team stars.

At present, Conte is without a club and despite last year's setback, the 49-year-old Italian remains a relatively young manager with a proven track record in terms of success across Europe. Reports claim that Conte was contacted prior to their latest defeat, so at present, the charismatic boss can be considered the most likely manager poised to take charge at the Bernabeu.

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With all of that in mind, who would you like to see in charge of Real Madrid? Let us know in the comments below!