Tension as Zinedine Zidane battles Real Madrid board over move for Dutch star

Reports in Spain and England claim Zinedine Zidane is at loggerheads with the Real Madrid board after reports suggested that they are now targeting Ajax maestro Donny van de Beek instead of Paul Pogba.

Despite signing a number of high-profile players already this summer, which includes the £150m capture of Eden Hazard, Real’s summer has got off to a woeful start after enduring their worst pre-season in 39 years.

Los Blancos were handed a disheartening 7-3 drubbing by Atletico Madrid.

Zidane is adamant Pogba is the answer to all of Real’s problems in midfield and he has been relentless in his pursuit of the unsettled Manchester United star.

However, according to MARCA, Real have now turned their attention to Van de Beek following a summer of struggles in trying to lead Pogba away from Old Trafford.

Spanish news outlet AS are also reporting that Real have ‘moved on to Plan B’ with Van de Beek their alternative to Pogba.

They insist the 22-year-old Dutchman, who played a starring role in Ajax reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season, will cost somewhere in the region of £60million – a much cheaper alternative to the £150m United are asking for Pogba.

However, Zidane is desperate to get a deal for Pogba over the line, no matter what the cost.

The French manager is already on bad terms with president Florentino Perez over Gareth Bale’s blocked move to China last month – a player he is desperate to offload, the Daily Mail report.

The Welsh wizard was on the verge of sealing a mouth-watering £1m-per-week move Jiangsu Suning when Perez stopped the stunning switch.