Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter has said that Zinedine Zidane will succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager.

Ancelotti has been criticised in recent weeks after Real Madrid have picked up just 10 points in the last six matches.

"It's not about candidates, it's a candidate," Hunter told Sky Sports News.

"The succession plan is Zinedine Zidane. He's in charge of Castilla B. It's a formal plan and everyone knows this to be the case.

"They want him to gain more experience. I think he wants to gain more. Therefore maybe there's a small chance that if Ancelotti is in a risk in the summer, they'll say, 'we'll wait a year with him'. And Zizou will come through."

Real Madrid are now second in La Liga after losing to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.