Tottenham Hotspur are braced for Real Madrid to push for Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, just seven days after Pochettino signed a new five-year deal at Spurs.

Zinedine Zidane announced his surprise resignation on Thursday afternoon, after winning his third consecutive Champions League trophy, and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has made Pochettino his number one choice for the job.

Perez has admired Pochettino for some time but this summer is readying a serious push to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu, and is not thought to be considering any other choices for the role.

Any advance from Real Madrid would be firmly rejected by Tottenham. Just last week Pochettino, Jesus Perez and the rest of the coaching team signed new five-year deals at Spurs, taking them up to the end of the 2022-23 season. Signing those deals appeared to end any questions about Pochettino’s immediate future at the club, and Tottenham pointed on Thursday afternoon to the fact that Pochettino had signed a new deal just one week ago.

Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Show all 8 1 /8 Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Real Madrid are looking for a new head coach after Zinedine Zidane walked out on the club after three exceptionally successful years in charge. Corbis via Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Mauricio Pochettino The Tottenham Hotspur manager is admired by the Real Madrid hierarchy. But he recently signed a new five-year contract with Spurs. Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Joachim Loew Rumours emerged in February that the German manager was Florentino Perez's first-choice. Bongarts/Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Luis Enrique His appointment would be controversial but he did used to play for Real Madrid, meaning he's a possibility. Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Guti Manager of Real Madrid's Under-19 team. Has said he would be ready to step up and replace Zidane. Getty Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Antonio Conte Will he leave Chelsea this summer? If he does, the Italian will certainly be in the frame. Chelsea FC via Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Maurizio Sarri The mercurial Italian is wanted by Chelsea. But if Conte stays, Sarri will certainly be in the frame. AFP/Getty Images Who could replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid? Arsene Wenger Wenger is currently the favourite with the bookies. The Frenchman is out of a job and is one of the most experienced managers in world football, after all... AFP/Getty Images

Tottenham say that there is no release clause, which strengthens their ability to say no to Real Madrid. Some close to the Argentinean believe he would be allowed to leave for Madrid owing to an informal agreement struck between coach and club, but Spurs say there is no such informal agreement either.

Before the signing of the contract last week, Pochettino’s future had been one of the long-running stories of Tottenham’s season. He achieved notable success against Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage, earning a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu before Spurs famously beat Real 3-1 at Wembley. He has been showered with attention by the Spanish media and when asked about the possibility of him replacing Zidane, has said that “you never know what is going to happen in football”. Only that he would never manage Barcelona or Arsenal.

At the end of the season Pochettino had left his future up in the air, speculating on the club’s future with another manager, and calling on the club to “be brave and take risks”. But after positive talks with the club hierarchy Pochettino did sign a new contract, promising the start of a positive summer transfer window with Spurs keen to invest in improving the squad. Even with Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose up for sale.