Solari to be sacked by Real Madrid ‘imminently’ and replaced by Jose Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO'S return to Real Madrid is imminent, according to reports in Spain.

Santiago Solari is set to be sacked following the disastrous Champions League exit earlier this week.

Los Blancos were humiliated by Ajax at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, losing 4-1 in their biggest home defeat in the Champions League to date.

And according to Telemadrid, Solari's departure is imminent with Mourinho, 56, understood to be on the verge of making a stunning Madrid return.

The Spanish giants' terrible run of form saw them dropping out of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in less than a week.

And Real Madrid are also 12 points behind league leaders Barcelona in La Liga - losing to their bitter rivals twice last week.

Fans at the Bernabeu were singing Mourinho's name during the nightmare defeat to Ajax, indicating they would be happy to see their former manager as the heir to Solari.

And the Portuguese manager admitted he appreciated the chants, although insisted the club had not contacted him over the job.

He said: "I makes me proud [that fans called my name] but Madrid has a manager. Obviously it makes me proud, but nothing more than that.

"But it is all hypothetical, I haven’t had any contact with them."

Zinedine Zidane, a triple-Champions League winner with Los Blancos, was also thought to be in the mix for the post.

Club president Florentino Perez was reportedly a big fan of putting the Frenchman in charge of a massive squad overhaul that is expected to be carried out at the Bernabeu in the summer.