Real Madrid are looking at possible replacements for Zinedine Zidane but the French coach’s fate is far from sealed despite reports in Spain that Joachim Low has already been lined-up.

Zidane’s Real Madrid failed to beat second division Numancia on Tuesday night although the 2-2 second-leg draw did not prevent them from making it into Friday’s quarter-final draw.

The team’s league form has been poor and after they lost at home to Barcelona and could only draw away with Celta Vigo they dropped to 16 points behind the Catalan league leaders. They are fourth- placed and only one point closer to the top than to the drop zone.

In the Champions League they were beaten convincingly at Wembley by Tottenham and failed to top the group leaving them with a very difficult last-16 qualifier against Paris Saint-Germain on February 14 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But Zidane has credit in the bank after guiding the team to an unprecedented five trophies in 2017 and contrary to reports emanating from Madrid and echoed in Barcelona no decision has been taken over his future.

German coach Löw has been a Madrid target in the past but has always preferred to continue with the national team. His current contract runs until 2020 and it would cost Madrid to buy him out of it.