Van de Beek is Real Madrid's Plan B Transfer market An alternative to Pogba

Ajax have been one of this season's sensations having eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus from the Champions League and beaten Tottenham in the first leg of the semi-final.

With Frenkie de Jong already signed by Barcelona, Matthijs de Ligt has been on the radar of the Catalans and all of Europe's elite, but the performances of their other players has grabbed attention as well.

Dusan Tadic, Hakim Ziyech and, particularly, Donny Van de Beek have impressed in those giant killings, with the latter's goalscoring exploits catching the eye of Real Madrid.

Van de Beek has proven himself to be a top level player, and Los Blancos are keeping tabs on him as an alternative option to reinforce the midfield.

The 21-year-old has a tendency to arrival in the opposition's area at an opportune time and he has the potential to achieve big things in Amsterdam or elsewhere.

A product of Ajax's academy, he's an excellent technical talent with good physicality too.

Against Juventus and Spurs he showed his reading of the game, ability to make interceptions, tackles and to drive the team forward, before finishing moves himself as well.

It's clear that Zinedine Zidane's preferred option for the midfield is Paul Pogba, but other options are being considered by those upstairs at the Bernabeu, with the Frenchman having an extremely high salary that would distort the limit at Madrid.

Paris Saint-Germain are interested as well, so Los Blancos know they'll have to pay big to sign him. With De Jong moving to Barcelona for 74 million euros, Van de Beek is expected to cost about 60 million euros, should he be sold.