Former Premier League manager ‘lined up to replace Nuno Espirito Santo’ at Al Ittihad… after the ex-Wolves boss was sacked after just six wins in 12 league games despite boasting the likes of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante

• Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad on Tuesday 
• Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been lined up despite his Premier League desire 
• Chris Sutton: ‘How my son nearly died’ – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off podcast

Al-Ittihad are reportedly lining up Julen Lopetegui, after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo on Tuesday. 

The Saudi Pro League side have won only six of 12 league games so far this term, and made the decision to sack him after their 2-0 defeat to Air Force Club of Iraq in the Asian Champions League on Monday.

Despite signing the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho, they sit sixth in the standings – 11 points off leaders A-Hilal.

Santo took over at Al-Ittihad in July 2022 after being sacked by Tottenham eight months earlier.

The 49-year-old, previously managed Wolves, where Lopetegui left just three days before the start of the current season.

Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad on Tuesday

Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been lined up as Santo’s replacement

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague – who has a close relationship with Lopetegui – said that despite Al-Ittihad’s interest, the manager is keen to wait for an opportunity in the Premier League to arise. 

He tweeted: ‘His plan is clear. He will remain in England and wait for an opportunity in the Premier League. 

‘Every team that has contacted him in the past (Lyon, Villarreal, etc) was heard but I think his idea is clear (let’s see if a huge massive enormous offer changes his mind, but I doubt it).’

There are currently no Premier League vacancies for Lopetegui to apply for, with remarkably no sackings so far this campaign.  

Lopetegui, after guiding Wolves to a 13th place finish last season, left the club after voicing his frustrations over their lack of summer spending. 

Spanish publication SPORT linked the Spaniard as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. 

Though the Dutchman doesn’t appear to be in any trouble yet, despite the Red Devils’ disappointing start to the season. 

Al-Ittihad’s poor form comes despite having the likes of N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema in their ranks

Lopetegui left Wolves days before the start of the season after voicing his frustrations over their lack of summer spending

Al-Ittihad said in a statement that assistant coach Hassan Khalifa will take charge ‘until the completion of the procedures for hiring a new coach’.

They said: ‘The club announces the termination of the contractual relationship with Portuguese coach Nuno Santo, after a comprehensive technical evaluation process for the last stage in which he took over the task of supervising the training of the first football team.

‘Al-Ittihad club thanks coach Nuno Santo for what he provided during his tenure, wishing him success in the coming period.’

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