According to the very reliable BeIN Sport, Laurent Blanc has finalised negotiations with PSG to become their new manager, replacing the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti:
After manager Carlo Ancelotti’s announcement shortly after the 2012-2013 season ended that he wanted to leave PSG, the club has been frantically and unsuccessfully trying to fill the vacant position, initially saying they would convince Ancelotti to stay.
They failed to do so and the Italian is set to become Real Madrid manager in the coming days. In the last few weeks we have confirmation that PSG contacted the following managers, who all rejected the proposition or failed to agree a deal:
Andre Villas Boas (was offered a 3 year deal reportedly but decided to remain with Tottenham because he did not want to appear as a ‘hopping’ manager)
Fabio Capello (an agreement could not be reached because the manager was required to give the Russian FA 2 months notice of any departure and PSG decided they could not wait that long)
Rafael Benitez (The ex-Chelsea interim manager refused a one year deal after being offered a better deal with now new employers Napoli)
Guus Hiddink (He decided to pen an extension with Anzhi after he was offered a wage hike. Rejected PSG’s one-year offer)
Jose Mourinho (The Portuguese man was approached but had already agreed a deal to sign for Chelsea)
Arsene Wenger (Although he denies it, the Arsenal legend has been approached on numerous occasions by PSG and they hope to sign him up in 2014 when his contract expires with the Gooners)
Michael Laudrup (The Swansea manager was unimpressed by the one-year deal he was offered and decided after only a season with the Welsh side he wanted to stay)
Franck Rijkaard (The Dutchman announced he would not go into managing next season but “PSG is a fantastic club.’
Rudi Garcia (Get French Football News understands that the newly appointed AS Roma coach was approached by PSG but was also unimpressed by a 1-year offer)
Blanc has agreed a reported two year deal which perhaps shows that the supposed signing Wenger in 2014 obsession may be false. However it is the only real explanation for their offering of all these one-year deals and it better pay off, otherwise PSG have passed on so many top managers just because they only offered them one year deals. This could well come back to haunt them.
However, it appeared later today that a Laurent Blanc has yet to finalise negotiations with PSG his agent claimed in RMC radio. We shall see.
