According to Spanish TV program Jugones, an official announcement is expected later on Monday.

According to the latest reports coming out of Spain, Santiago Solari will officially be sacked today. However, in contrast to previous claims, it won't be Jose Mourinho replacing the Argentine but Zinedine Zidane.

Yes, that is right. According to Spanish TV program Jugones (via Marca), the much-beloved French boss is set to return to Santiago Bernabeu only nine months after breaking the hearts of many fans by walking away from the Bernabeu.

The report states that the board has agreed that a change is required in the dugout. This means bad news for their current manager, who is believed to have already bid farewell to everyone at the Valdebebas this morning.

A Copa del Rey and Champions League exit alongside the 12-point gap between Los Blancos and Barcelona could not be accepted by the higher-ups. Thus, an announcement regarding his departure is due soon, approximately at 18:00 CET (13:00 ET/17:00 GMT). 

As for his replacement, while the Special One was heavily tipped to arrive due to his availability, Florentino Perez had his eyes on one man and that is Zizou. The president's reasons for wanting the World Cup winner are obvious. 

The 46-year-old remains a popular figure at the Bernabeu, mainly due to the three consecutive Champions League titles he led the Madrid giant to. Furthermore, the Frenchman was a highly respected figure in the dressing room for the most part during his successful spell as first-team boss.

The biggest roadblock was convincing Zidane to end his sabbatical early in order to return. However, Perez seems to have found a breakthrough as he is reportedly set to be officially appointed later on Monday.

As for Solari, he is tipped to remain at the club despite being stripped of the managerial role. Zidane's imminent return could mean bad news for the likes of Bale and Isco, two players who struggled for playing time during his reign and continue to be unhappy at the Bernabeu.