Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is reportedly club president Florentino Perez's first choice to replace Zinedine Zidane as head coach at the Bernabeu.

Zidane's position in Madrid is said to be far from secure despite a solid start to the new La Liga campaign leaving the team in third spot - just two points off leaders Sevilla.

Los Blancos suffered a 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and there is believed to be friction between the head coach and president.

Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have recently been linked with moves to Madrid, although the former has played down suggestions that he could return as head coach.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Alonso, who is currently in charge of Real Sociedad B in the Segunda Division B, has been identified as the leading candidate.

The 37-year-old made 236 appearances during his time as a player at the Bernabeu, winning La Liga, two Copas del Rey and the Champions League before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2015.

Alonso worked with Madrid's Under-14 side between 2018 and 2019 before leaving for Sociedad, where he has won two and drawn two of his four games in charge of their B outfit.