Real Madrid transfer news: James Rodriguez and Isco 'to be sold' in the summer to fund Eden Hazard move
The pair were booed during Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat by Atletico at the weekend and could be sold in the summer to fund a move for Chelsea's out-of-form winger
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid could look to sell both James Rodriguez and Isco in the summer after they failed to convince new manager Zinedine Zidane that they have a future at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the funds generated could be used to finance a bid for Chelsea winger Eden Hazard.
With both Rodriguez and Isco struggling to tie down a place in Zidane’s first team, with the imminent return of Gareth Bale set to relegate the Colombian forward to the substitutes’ bench after the Wales international returned to training this week.
Spanish newspaper AS reports that both Rodriguez and Isco could be made available in the summer, with the latter already being monitored by both Arsenal and Manchester City. Rodriguez has caught the eye of Manchester United in the past, although Jose Mourinho – who is tipped to replace United manager Louis van Gaal in the summer should the Dutchman lose his job – could also look to compete for the Spain international’s signature.
After both players were jeered by Real fans during the 1-0 home defeat to city rivals Atletico at the weekend, officials were believed to have accepted that at least one of the pair would need to be sold in the summer. Should both head for the Bernabeu exit, then Real could head into the summer with up to £100m to spend on reinforcements as well as the existing money put aside for United goalkeeper David De Gea.
Spanish newspaper Marca adds that Real would prefer to hold on to Rodriguez, but would consider selling him if they can attract an offer near the £63m that they paid Monaco for him in 2014 after he excelled at the World Cup.
One of those reinforcements looks set to be Chelsea’s Hazard, with the Belgium international facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge beyond the end of the season. Hazard’s form this term has been far from that shown last year which landed him the PFA Player of the Year award for 2014/15, with a section of Chelsea fans targeting him as one of the players that cost Mourinho his job earlier in the season by underperforming.
Hazard has also spoken of his interest in playing for another club other than Chelsea, with the 25-year-old admitting that an approach from Paris Saint-Germain – Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 opponents – would be hard to turn down just last month.
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