Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to spring into action just weeks before the transfer deadline to strengthen Julen Lopetegui’s squad.
Speculation appears to have ramped up in the aftermath of their defeat to Atletico Madrid in their UEFA Super Cup clash on Wednesday night, as Los Blancos suffered a 4-2 loss.
Given that they haven’t moved to replace Cristiano Ronaldo after he secured a move to Juventus earlier this summer, question marks are unsurprisingly being raised as to whether Julen Lopetegui has the players at his disposal who are capable of sustaining their recent success.
With that in mind, Don Balon report that Real Madrid are willing to offer up to €180m to try and prise Eden Hazard away from Chelsea before the August 31 transfer deadline in Spain, although a move is surely highly unlikely at this stage.
Given that the window has already closed in England, Maurizio Sarri would be unable to replace his talisman, and so Chelsea will be left short until January at the earliest if Hazard was to leave this month.
It comes after The Express noted earlier this week that the Spanish giants were still in the hunt for Hazard, and so perhaps Chelsea may well still have to fend them off until the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Don Balon also claim that isn’t the only area that Madrid may opt to bolster, as it’s reported that Thiago Alcantara is keen on a switch to the Bernabeu and Lopetegui has offered his approval of the deal.
Again, it’s a rumour that has surfaced from a more reliable source in Sky Sports last week, and so perhaps the defeat to Atletico has genuinely forced the reigning European champions into seriously considering signings.
With Karim Benzema, Isco, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro still at Lopetegui’s disposal though, it will be up to the Spanish tactician to find the right balance in his side if new faces arrive.