Perez eye is on Poch
Spurs boss is main target if Zidane is axed
Real dressing room after his team were taken apart by Pochettino’s men on Wednesday.
The Argentine would be a hugely popular choice with Real supporters, having said in the past he could never coach Madrid’s fierce rivals Barcelona because of his time spent across the Catalan city at Espanyol.
Zidane has won seven trophies in 19 months, but there are doubts about his ability to guide Real’s young squad.
The group would be improved by the addition of Kane and Alli, who impressed in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Wembley. Tottenham would resist any sale and slap huge valuations on their star players.
Of the two, Alli is seen as more open to a move abroad. The key may rest with who represents him, with Jorge Mendes t he frontrunner.
Relations between super agent Mendes and Madrid are not as close as they were, but his involvement could still help push through a deal.
Meanwhile, Spurs fear captain Hugo Lloris will miss their matches against Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
France boss Didier Deschamps revealed yesterday that Lloris had suffered at high injury on Wednesday, ruling the goalkeeper out of their friendlies against Wales and Germany.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO i s Real Madrid’s No 1 target to replace Zinedine Zidane if the French manager cannot turn around his side’s season.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Dele Alli are also on a list of summer targets as Madrid look to freshen up a squad that has become stale after three summers without a ‘galactico’ acquisition.
As Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Madrid reverberates around the continent, Zidane faces his first crisis since he took over a year and a half ago and Pochettino is seen as the long-term solution.
Madrid are eight points behind league leaders Barcelona in Spain and set to finish second to Spurs in their Champions League group.
Real president Florentino Perez has an excellent relationship with Pochettino, referring to him as ‘my Poch’ when Spurs drew 1-1 in Madrid two weeks ago.
‘I have a lot of respect for Florentino,’ Pochettino said. ‘I’m pleased if he feels the same way. He is always friendly towards me.’ Perez went to the