Real eyeing up Hazard, Draxler and Gomes if Pogba move fails

Manchester United have moved ahead of the pack in the race to sign Paul Pogba, which is why Real Madrid are drawing up a list of alternatives if a deal for the French midfielder falls through. After the Euro 2016 final, Pogba and Juventus will sit down to thrash out the player’s future. Although Los Blancos are not closing any doors, there are three names that are gaining momentum at the top of the Spanish club: Hazard, Draxler and André Gomes.

Eden Hazard flattered to deceive last season at Chelsea, which in turn has lowered his price tag, and with the then reigning champions lurking dangerously close to the relegation zone, the Belgian attacking midfielder was cited as one of the prime culprits. Hazard is under contract until 2020, but if he does not feature among Conte’s plans then he could be the story of the transfer market.

Julian Draxler, meanwhile, has earned respect through his displays in the Bundesliga - Schalke and Wolfsburg alike have reaped the rewards of the attacking midfielder’s creativity. The website Transfermarkt values Draxler at 24 million euros, although the Wolfsburg are unlikely to accept such a low price for a player whose contract at the club runs until 2020.

Finally, André Gomes has also come under the Real radar after being one of the few players to shine under the reigns of Nuno, Neville and Ayestarán at Valencia. Like Draxler, Gomes is 22, although he does play in a deeper position than Hazard and the Germany international. Valencia paid Benfica 15 million euros for the Portuguese midfielder in 2014.