Real Madrid are reportedly ready to increase their efforts to sign Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba with less than a week remaining of the English transfer window.
The Spanish giants have been repeatedly linked with a move for Pogba throughout the summer, while both the player himself and his agent Mino Raiola have publicly expressed their desire for a new challenge.
However, United are holding firm on their asking price of €150m (£137.2m) and have already ruled out the possibility of letting Pogba leave beyond the Premier League's August 8 deadline.
Spanish clubs are able to sign players until September 2, but Madrid would need to complete a deal before 5pm next Thursday if they are to land their number one target.
AS reports that manager Zinedine Zidane has urged the club to press ahead with plans to sign Pogba, although their pursuit could also rely on United's search for a replacement.
The Red Devils are understood to have identified Bruno Fernandes and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as possible options in that regard but will not sanction Pogba's exit until a deal for one of those players is secured.
Madrid, meanwhile, have reportedly lined up Ajax's Donny van de Beek as a backup option should bringing Pogba to the club prove too complicated.
Barney Corkhill
