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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has won his transfer battle with Florentino Perez.

As Mirror Football revealed last month, the Frenchman and club president Perez have been at loggerheads over who is the right man to strengthen the Spanish side’s midfield this summer.

Zidane has long made Paul Pogba his No.1 choice, despite United’s reticence to sell and a potential £160million transfer fee.

Zidane returned to the club in March, nine months after walking out following three successive Champions League titles, on the proviso that he would be handed greater autonomy by the Real Madrid president, including over transfers.

But Perez had preferred Spurs star Christian Eriksen, believing him to be cheaper and more easily accessible given his contract has just 12 months left to run.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Amid the pair’s standoff, the club signed Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard, the latter being Zidane’s No.1 selection, while he acquiesced to the politics of the Madrid boardroom by making Thibaut Courtois his first-choice goalkeeper next term.

Perez enquired about Eriksen over dinner with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy ahead of the Champions League Final, but was told he had no intention of selling.

That led to Eriksen issuing his come-get-me plea last week, the Dane declaring: "I feel that I am a place in my career where I might want to try something new.”

The Spurs playmaker was desperate to see how much he was wanted by Los Blancos.

(Image: Kiko Huesca/EPA-EFE/REX)

But now, after Zidane made clear that he has no interest in either Ajax youngster Donny van de Beek or Eriksen, according to a number of sources, Perez is back on the clock looking to seal a deal to take World Cup winner Pogba to the Spanish capital.

Pogba, who already speaks Spanish, has two years left on his deal at Old Trafford and would jump at the chance to link up with his compatriot at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Now United face a battle to keep Pogba, three years after his return from Juventus.

The Frenchman was in action as France returned to winning ways against Andorra on Tuesday night.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

However, despite Madrid’s grandiose portrayal of wealth, they are far from cash rich. And right now, amid Financial Fair Play guidelines, they are stretching themselves thinner than ever before.

They are desperate to sell a number of their own unwanted, big-money stars, but are struggling to find buyers for 10 players who are unwanted.

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

Keylor Navas has said his goodbyes, but offers haven't been forthcoming with Madrid asking for £18million for the Costa Rica keeper.

Gareth Bale has a huge contract which no-one wants to take over, never mind the £70million transfer fee Madrid are asking for. Others for sale include Isco - who has made clear his desire to stay - James Rodriguez, Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente.

One player who could attract Premier League suitors is Marco Asensio; the Spain winger’s stock has fallen somewhat in the last 12 months and Perez is loathe to sell a player who has been pinned as the club’s future.

However, with Hazard’s arrival, allied to the presence of Zidane favourite Lucas Vazquez and Brazilian starlet Vinicius Jr, Madrid could cash in on a player who would likely attract offers of around £90million.