Real Madrid still interested in EPL top duo

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has insisted in his quest for Chelsea and Manchester United star despite the setbacks.

And, according to AS, the Frenchman wants to bring Hazard and Pogba to the club after months of speculation over the Premier League stars.

Hazard is out of contract at Chelsea in 2020 and is refusing to sign a new deal, sparking fears he will finally make the move to Madrid this summer.

He has flirted with a transfer for years and recently said he’d made up his mind – but is yet to make it public.

Chelsea may be forced to sell this summer rather than losing him on a free but are banned from transfers so won’t be able to replace him for two windows.

Pogba meanwhile has been dropping hints in the last few weeks about a move to Madrid and Zidane even spoke about how much he liked the midfielder.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he is happy at the club and wants to build his side around him.

But he could face more pressure in the summer unless Pogba is given a new deal at the club.

Solskjaer revealed he sat down with Pogba to discuss his recent comments when he declared joining Madrid would be a dream for any player.

“It doesn’t really concern me [the comments] because I’ve had a chat with Paul and we’re fine,” Solskjaer said.

“He’s going to do his utmost here because he knows I’m very fond of him as a player and a person and he is important for us. There is no issue. He’s important here.”

While Solskjaer refused to criticise Zidane directly there is little doubt there will be annoyance behind the scenes at Old Trafford after an attempt to destabilise an existing player.

“I don’t like to talk about other teams’ players of course but this is another challenge with international breaks,” said Solskjaer.

“Players are available all the time as well and it’s a different environment, more of a general talk. Paul is a very nice and polite man who answered a general question.

“Zidane is an icon in France, he is a fantastic manager, he used to be a fantastic player – I played against him myself – and he’s just politely answered that question.

“But Paul’s happy here, he’s going to be a big big part [of the future]. I have always said you would like to build your team round him and that hasn’t changed at all.”

However talk has refused to go away even after Solskjaer’s comments and Madrid are said to be eyeing a summer deal for the France World Cup winner.

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Madrid are looking to replace Luka Modric this summer and want another winger after failing to replace Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.

But whether they have the funds to complete moves for both remains to be seen. They are likely to sell key players like Gareth Bale, who could even be used as a makeweight for either deal, and a number of others are expected to leave.

Zidane has revitalised the Madrid side already with two wins in a row and has brought Isco and Bale in from the cold.

He also dropped summer signing Thibaut Courtois for both games and has even been linked with a move for David de Gea.

Madrid are out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey and remain 12 points behind Barcelona with nine games to play so are effectively planning for next season already.

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