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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane does not want the club to sign Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, according to Marca.

What’s the word?

The Spurs playmaker has expressed his desire to “make a step up” this summer, and a move to Real has long been touted.

However, Marca now report that Zidane instead wants the club to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United, having already acquired world-class winger Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

Indeed, the piece claims that the Denmark international “does not convince Zidane” and that the club will now turn their attention to securing Pogba’s signature.

Eriksen scored ten goals and laid on 17 assists as Spurs reached the Champions League final and finished fourth in the Premier League.

A blow for Spurs’ summer

Spurs’ summer seemed to be predicated on the idea of selling Eriksen.

They have been linked with a host of players, from Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele to Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, both per the London Evening Standard, along with a number of playmakers, most notably Real Betis star Giovani Lo Celso, as manager Mauricio Pochettino attempts to refresh a squad that has not seen any investment since January 2018.

All come with hefty fees attached and one feels that Eriksen’s sale would have helped grease the wheels when it comes to the club’s summer spending. Now they are left in limbo.

If Real aren’t interested, Spurs may be left merely hoping for a big bid from elsewhere; Inter Milan have been linked but it remains to be seen if they could table an offer as significant as Madrid’s.

While keeping a player of Eriksen’s talents would usually be a boost for a club who have already seen Luka Modric and Gareth Bale move to Spain, this feels like a major setback, particularly with such a busy transfer window needed in north London.