With Paul Pogba nearing a move to Manchester United, Real Madrid will have to look elsewhere for a top-class midfielder.
With Real Madrid looking to have conceded defeat to Manchester United in their pursuit of Paul Pogba, Los Blancos have identified Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti as alternatives in the centre of midfield.
The French international is valued at around €35 million and would presumably jump at the move, considering the Magpies were relegated to the Championship last season.
Verratti however is considered unsellable by the Parisian outfit after becoming one of the key midfield pivots in Laurent Blanc’s side, although with the Frenchman’s departure, he may feel the time is right for a big move to the Spanish Capital.
AS reports that a deal for Verratti could be possible if he does not exactly fit into new PSG coach Unai Emery’s plans, allowing Real to make a move for the Abruzzo-born midfielder.
“I do not know who will or will not arrive,” stated Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane in Colombus, USA, where his side lost 3-1 to PSG in the International Champions Cup on Wednesday. “We are working hard up until August 31st and anything can happen.”
As for activity in the other direction, Alvaro Morata’s return to the Spanish capital means that Jese Rodriguez could move to the Parc des Princes.
PSG are in the market for a deputy to Edinson Cavani and see the 23-year-old as the ideal man, and given the fight to play in the Real Madrid No.9 role, Jese is likely to struggle for playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu.