With the Paul Pogba transfer saga dragging on much to Real Madrid’s disliking, the Spanish giants are now looking at alternatives to the French superstar. According to Marca, they have their eyes on Donny van de Beek.
While the Ajax midfielder did not grab all the headlines in his club’s amazing European campaign as the likes of De Ligt, De Jong, and Ziyech did; the 22-year-old played a pivotal role nonetheless. He scored in back-to-back away games in the Champions League quarter and semi-finals, against Juventus and Tottenham, finishing the Eredivisie season with nine goals.
He scored an additional three goals in Europe and set up another two en route to the penultimate stage where they suffered heartbreak at the hands of Spurs. He would be a quality addition for Los Blancos and the Madrid giants are ready to make a bid for the Dutchman but there remains one obstacle: Zinedine Zidane.
The French boss sees Van de Beek as his first alternative but has eyes only for Pogba. Marca states that “all areas of the club” are in favor of going after the Ajax ace instead, who they believe would cost approximately $67M, but the manager is adamant on bringing Pogba to the Bernabeu.
Money is a big issue in their pursuit of the World Cup winner. The Liga heavyweight are fully aware that he will cost them at the very least $166M. Add in the fact that the Real Madrid higher-ups don’t see the Man United star as the solution to their problems and it becomes harder to see the Spanish giants exceeding their valuation of the former Juventus ace.
Here is where Van de Beek would fit as Los Merengues would not need to break the bank to land him. It remains to be seen whether Zidane will change his stance but as things stand right now, he is willing to wait until deadline day of the Spanish transfer window to land his preferred target.
