Thomas Tuchel Being Tracked by Real Madrid, Says Dortmund's Hans-Joachim Watzke

Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel, according to the Bundesliga club's chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Watzke said he has not yet been asked about the German boss by Los Blancos president Florentino Perez, but he believes that Real are tracking the 43-year-old, per German outlet ZDF (via MailOnline's James Dutton):

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I have a good relationship with Real Madrid and I believe that they are tracking him [Tuchel]. 

After the season Thomas had with us, Real have taken account of what a first-class coach we have. 

Florentino Perez [Madrid president] has not asked me about him yet. We are not worried about losing him if Madrid wanted him now. Thomas Tuchel has a contract with Dortmund. 

His situation is different to that of a player. A player at the age of 28 or 29 might only have three years in him and could ask us not to deny him such a move.

Thomas is still a very young coach, he could still coach at whatever club he wants for 20 years or so.

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Tuchel succeeded Jurgen Klopp as Dortmund boss before the start of the 2015-16 season and saw them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga—and a return to the UEFA Champions League—last term.

In 2016-17, BVB have faced Real once in the group stage of Europe's top-tier competition, with the two sides sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Westfalenstadion.

There is little danger of Real knocking for Tuchel any time soon, as Zinedine Zidane is doing an impressive job at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Since succeeding Rafael Benitez as Los Blancos boss in January, the Frenchman has led Real to their 11th Champions League triumph, and they sit top of the table in La Liga after nine matches of the new campaign.

Zidane, 44, could potentially remain at the helm at Real for some time yet if he continues to lead the team in such fashion.

But the Spanish giants are clearly looking to the future and trying to establish who could be his potential successor when the time comes.

Tuchel is an obvious candidate, as he is young, plays an exciting brand of football and could well be one of Europe's top managers over the next decade.

His Dortmund side have not made the best start to the new Bundesliga season—they lie sixth after eight matches—but it is clear Tuchel has the ability to be a world-class manager.

Should he guide BVB through another competitive domestic campaign and enjoy a decent run in the Champions League, he will likely remain on Real's radar as a potential candidate should Zidane need replacing.