Zinedine Zidane set to take over at Real Madrid

The great Rafa Benitez experiment appears to be coming to an end. AS and Marca are both reporting that Benitez has been sacked and that club legend Zinedine Zidane -- currently Madrid’s B-team manager -- will take over as interim boss. A press conference has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET.

Zidane was rumored to be a candidate for the job after Carlo Ancelotti was let go last season, but Florentino Perez opted for a more experienced candidate. Since then, Benitez has managed to alienate Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly, while Zidane has done much better with the B-team, guiding them into a promotion playoff place so far this year.

Karim Benzema’s goal against Valencia was great, despite all the turmoil at Madrid. (r/soccer)

Jordan Morris is finally turning pro, and he’s negotiating with the Seattle Sounders. (SI)

Guus Hiddink says Chelsea aren’t out of the top-four fight. (BBC)

Jamie Vardy is out for at least one game with a minor groin injury. (Guardian)

Stoke are appealing Geoff Cameron’s red card against West Brom. (ESPN FC)

LAFC are unveiling their logo and colors this week. (MLS)

Jürgen Klopp isn’t rushing Daniel Sturridge back. Again. (Telegraph)

Aaron Gordon on FIFA’s crooks being bad at crime. (Vice)

Trevor Murray on Filippo Inzaghi’s brilliant career. (These Football Times)

James Yorke on the stats behind the stories of the Premier League so far. (Stats Bomb)

Silly season has returned. Please don’t take anything in this section too seriously.

Expect Locomotiv Moscow star Oumar Niasse to make a Premier League move. (Guardian)

Juventus are trying to sign Isco. (Marca)

Lazio are closing in on Lyon’s Milan Bisevac. (Football Italia)

Manchester United are willing to pay up to £140 million to sign Neymar. (Mirror)

Crystal Palace are going to bid for Jonjo Shelvey. (Telegraph)

Madrid and Valencia drew a wild match. (Managing Madrid)

Here’s a recap and highlights from all of Saturday’s EPL action.

Chelsea had little problem crushing Crystal Palace. (We Ain’t Got No History)

Everton and Spurs drew an even game. (Cartilage Free Captain)

Espanyol defended well, holding Barcelona to a 0-0 draw. (Barca Blaugranes)