Zidane wants Pogba at all costs

Zinedine Zidane “still sees Paul Pogba as the missing piece of his Real Madrid puzzle” and wants the Manchester United midfielder “at all costs”.

The Real Madrid manager has made no secret of his admiration for his French compatriot and United know Pogba is keen on moving to the Bernabeu.

Pogba and Zidane met up in Dubai back in October and, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, have been in constant contact this season.

They report that Zidane is still demanding the club sanction the signing of Pogba, given that was his primary demand when he returned for a second spell coaching the club in March.

Real were unable to deliver Pogba in the summer, despite much speculation, and the player has spent most of the current campaign on the sidelines with foot and ankle injuries.

However, there have been suggestions that Pogba is deliberately delaying his return to action so as not to aggravate his foot injury and jeopardise a potential move to Real.

But Marca also report there is a reluctance at board level in Madrid to sanction a move that would cost them well in excess of £100million.

Real directors have doubts over how Pogba, 26, would fit into the squad and that he could block the progress of young players such as Fede Valverde and Martin Odegaard.

Zidane said last month ‘I don’t think Valverde is like Pogba’ in an effort to set the wheels in motion for his purchase.

Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola is determined to force through the move but will meet with firm resistance from both United and Real.