PSG's next manager: Thiago Motta, Antonio Conte, Zinedine Zidane and the possible replacements for Christophe Galtier as Julian Nagelsmann talks break down

Four months later, and his sacking from Bayern Munich looks very puzzling. The Bavarians were on course for a treble when the trendy German was in the job, and although the football wasn't spellbinding, it was effective. New manager Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, did an excellent job of messing it all up, getting battered by Man City in the Champions League, losing in the cup, and needing a Dortmund collapse to win the Bundesliga.

Nagelsmann has come close to bagging a Premier League job since then, but couldn't reach an agreement with either Chelsea or Tottenham. And his bad luck continued when he also failed to hammer out a deal at PSG. Perhaps he needs a new agent?

On the surface, he seemed well suited to the role too. PSG are set to get a whole lot younger after this summer transfer window, and Nagelsmann has an excellent record when working with youthful squads. Oh well.

Zidane has, presumably, been waiting for one of two jobs since he left Real Madrid back in 2020: PSG or France. Top of his list was reportedly the France national team gig. That all made quite a lot of sense – and still does. However, Didier Deschamps penned a new deal that will keep him in charge of the national team until at least 2026.

Zizou will likely take that job someday – perhaps for the 2030 World Cup cycle. But he cannot simply sit around until then. For now, PSG seems like an ideal fit. Zidane's credentials as a manager are well established by now.

He was a success in Madrid's youth ranks and led the senior side to three Champions League titles in a row. He took a dressing room full of stars and egos and channelled it into one footballing machine. If anyone knows how to manage big names, it's him.

And that's part of what the PSG job is. These players aren't there to be developed, per se. Rather, they need to be organised, deployed in the right way by a manager who can cope with the often conflicting interests of megastars.

Zidane, then, is ideal. Add to that his friendly relationship with Qatar, and Zidane seems like the top candidate.

Speaking of characters that will command respect...

As Tottenham have found out, there is no room for negotiation in a Conte dressing room. The Italian became first authoritarian and then toxic in North London, and was sacked after an explosive rant, in which he meticulously picked apart all of the club's faults. That is the negative of Conte. But the positives might be worth it.

The former Chelsea and Inter boss is a brilliant tactician and serial winner. He has excellent records in domestic football, and his tried-and-tested three-centre-back formation should mesh well with PSG's squad.

Perhaps this side needs a no-nonsense character. Conte is the very definition of that. On the pitch, it seems to be a perfect match. If the owners can keep Conte happy off it – and that's a BIG if – then this should all work swimmingly.

Gallardo is something of an Argentina legend. He was a fine footballer and a central playmaker for River Plate during three separate spells. After a decorated career, Gallardo was an immense success as River boss, and finished his tenure with 22 titles as a player and coach for the Argentine side.

He also already knows quite a bit about Paris. He spent a combined five years in Ligue 1, playing for both PSG and Monaco. Gallardo also coached against the Parisians in January's high-profile friendly between PSG and Riyadh All-Stars.

That contest was something of a tryout for a manager who has long coveted a move to European football. Gallardo is a master of tactical flexibility, forced to confront the constantly shifting landscape of Argentine football. He wants his teams to play fast, emphasising quick interchanges and verticality.

However, he might not be suited to the top job at Parc des Princes. Gallardo demands a high press from his team – something he might not get from a bashful dressing room. He also lacks European credibility.

But with vocal support from the likes of Pep Guardiola, chances are Gallardo would be a success if he lands a big job on the continent.

Here's another heavy hitter. Luis Enrique had to clear up a mess at Barcelona, taking the helm two years after Pep Guardiola stepped down. Tata Martino had underwhelmed, and the Blaugrana needed a new manager to handle a rejuvenated squad.

Luis Enrique navigated those waters fairly seamlessly. Granted, he had Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez on his side. But treble wins aren't easy to come by.

The former Barcelona midfielder looked right at home at Camp Nou. Tactically astute without being overbearing, he knew how to get the best out of his stars without denying them creative freedom. The Blaugrana were also rock solid defensively during his tenure, and he left amicably after three years.

He favours a 4-3-3, but values the kind of quick transitions that can benefit the likes of Mbappe. Indeed, despite being a Spanish coach, who managed Spain's best side and the Spanish national team, Luis Enrique isn't exactly a tiki-taka loyalist.

Add to that he pre-existing relationship with Neymar, and Enrique could prove a good hire.

Sporting CP's Amorim is no longer a hipster's secret. The 39-year-old has quickly become one of the most sought-after coaches in football, and recent success against Arsenal in the Europa League means his stock has only continued to rise.

Amorim is tactically innovative, preferring an organised 3-4-3 formation that presses high and yields few chances at the other end. In his two years at Sporting, the manager has developed – and subsequently sold – talents such as Nuno Mendes, Matheus Nunes, Joao Palhinha and Pedro Porro. All of those players are now established starters in England and France.

Notably, Amorim has a stellar record against other big clubs, establishing a reputation as a truly big-game manager. That he was linked with the Tottenham job is no surprise.

The oft-thrown around Jose Mourinho comparison is perhaps slightly inaccurate, but given his innovation and desire to win, it's easy to see the similarities with 'The Special One'. A young Mourinho would be an interesting appointment in Paris.

Or, alternatively, they could just go out and get the real thing. This is a simultaneously terrifying and alluring idea. Mourinho has done it in Italy, Spain and England.

Why can't France be next? Why don't PSG skip the niceties, the expansive modern stuff, and simply go after the coach that will win them football matches? Mourinho at PSG would not be pretty. He is not one for the glitz and glamour of Paris. He will not succumb to the big names, the eye-catching football.

But he is still one of the best managers in the world, who, with the right support, could do amazing things with this group. PSG has the tough defenders that Mourinho enjoys, and with veteran leadership in the dressing room from the likes of Marquinhos and Marco Verratti, the Portuguese could certainly get his side to buy into his ways.

That he plays entirely defensive football is something of a myth. His Real Madrid side alone is proof that Mourinho can piece together a dominant attacking team. He could certainly work with Mbappe.

Furthermore, Mourinho's penchant for cup football suggests that European success might be on the cards. There is, of course, the persona issue. Mourinho is perhaps too big of an ego for Paris. But for a short period of time, he would have them competing on all fronts. His time at Roma looks to be at an end too.

Three years ago, Thiago Motta was talking about 2-7-2 formations and being ridiculed by the internet. Now, he's playing a very effective 4-2-3-1 at Bologna, and has guided the Italian side through a respectable Serie A campaign.

Motta was something of a late bloomer on the pitch, never quite becoming a star at Barcelona, but steadily became a very important player at Inter, and then PSG, due to his tactical nous and passing ability. His composed nature and reading of the game had him primed to be a successful manager.

And so far, he's lived up to that billing. Motta has switched jobs twice in the last three years but has developed an agreeable tactical approach. The former PSG stalwart likes his teams to build out of the back and play forward as quickly as possible. His teams suffocate the middle of the pitch, and, in turn, like to play long passes in behind – the kind of system that would be perfect for Mbappe.

He's still just 40 years old and hasn't quite proven himself as a defensive tactician. But his progressive style could do wonders at PSG. Given that he was there for nearly seven seasons and won 19 trophies, he also has enough of a connection with the club to get the fans' support, too.

PSG have been here before, but it all feels a bit like unfinished business. Ancelotti was just getting into the groove of the gig when asked to join Real Madrid in May 2013. The Italian had been PSG manager for 18 months, spearheading the new-look Paris side. They won Ligue 1 during his first season in charge and lost to Barcelona in the Champions League on away goals.

That side was full of potential, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi, and buoyed by the creativity of Javier Pastore, the pace of Lucas Moura, and solidity of Thiago Silva.

In short, it was a team on the rise. That generation has since moved on, and perhaps Ancelotti should get a shot with a new one. While Mbappe and Neymar are more than established, there are plenty of young stars in the side, with more to come this summer.

Ancelotti's style – a sort of relaxed, trusting thing reliant on technical quality rather than patterns of play – would suit a creative group perfectly. He appears to have fallen out of favour at Madrid and although there might be other suitors, he could be available to take over this summer.

And now for a wildcard...

Glasner has been linked with a move away from Eintracht Frankfurt since he led the club to Europa League glory last year. That run was positive in an otherwise mixed tenure in Germany. His 3-4-3 hasn't always been conducive to domestic success, and Frankfurt finished seventh in the German top flight – 12 points outside a Champions League spot.

But there is quite a lot to like here. Glasner was a product of the Red Bull system, and has carried some of those principles to management. Although his sides don't always press high, they still value direct and vertical play, with two creative players behind the dynamic Randal Kolo Muani. It's easy to imagine a similar system working swimmingly with Mbappe.

Frankfurt, in turn, are a very good goal-scoring team. And although they can be slightly leaky at the back, Glasner has turned them into a side capable of competing with some of Europe's best. That could be applied to France's top flight.