Real Madrid warned over future of £54m Pogba alternative

Ajax head coach Erik Ten Hag is confident of keeping Real Madrid target Donny Van De Beek at the club this summer.

It has been a summer of transition in Madrid, and despite spending upwards of €300m so far, their transfer activity does not appear to be finished yet, with a move for a midfielder being contemplated.

Real’s top target had been Paul Pogba, but the closure of the English transfer window has seriously dented their chances of prising the Frenchman away from Manchester United – who reportedly value him at £150m, far greater than what the La Liga giants were prepared to offer.

Ajax star Donny Van De Beek was believed to be Madrid’s preferred alternative, thanks to his comparatively cheaper valuation of £54m, but Ten Hag has insisted that the 22-year-old will not be making the move to the Spanish capital.

“[Van de Beek] only dedicates himself to playing,” Ten Hag said before Ajax’s Champions League qualifier against PAOK, which takes place on Tuesday night.

“I guess and I hope that he stays with us this season. Otherwise, I will hear from [Ajax’s director of football] Marc Overmars.”