Didier Deschamps turned down £10m-a-year Al-Ahli offer before current season

Didier Deschamps was offered a three-year contract worth 10m euros per season by Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli before the start of the current campaign, according to French newspaper L’Equipe.

The former France manager was approached by Al-Ahli chief executive Fabrice Bocquet as the club considered candidates to replace Matthias Jaissle.

Deschamps, who left his position as France manager after 14 consecutive years with the national team, was among a number of high-profile coaches linked with the Saudi club.

However, Al-Ahli’s board, which operates under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, ultimately opted to appoint Dutch coach Marino Pusic.

The proposed agreement would have kept Deschamps at Al-Ahli for the next three years, with a salary of 10m euros. Despite the size of the offer, the 57-year-old was not in a hurry to return to management during the current season.

According to L’Equipe, Deschamps may instead take a break until the end of the campaign to spend more time with his family after his long spell in charge of France.

Deschamps does not, however, want to remain out of work for as long as his fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane spent five years away from coaching after his last spell with Real Madrid, before eventually succeeding Deschamps as France manager. Deschamps is understood to be keen to avoid such a lengthy absence from the dugout.

Al-Ahli had been linked with several internationally recognised managers before deciding on Pusic, but the club has struggled under the Dutchman since the beginning of the season.

Its latest setback came in the quarter-finals of the Intercontinental Cup, where Al-Ahli were beaten 2-1 by South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.

The result brought another disappointing outcome for a team that had considered appointing Deschamps before settling on Pusic.