Real Madrid have big plans for the summer and it’s claimed that Zinedine Zidane has a wish-list of some of European football’s best players.
French newspaper L’Equipe reports that the Spanish giants have a €500m (£427m) budget for summer transfers and on the target list are Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left last summer for Juventus Real have not enjoyed the best of seasons and have struggled for goals.
Currently 12 points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga Real are also out of the Champions League after being humbled by Ajax in the last 16.
After leading Real to three consecutive Champions League titles Zidane stepped down as head coach last May only to return this month following the sacking of Santiago Solari. Real are in need of a revolution and “Zizou” is the man to oversee the changes.
Major overhaul
Frenchman Zidane is planning a major overhaul of his squad this summer, says the Daily Mail, in a bid to make Real once again the best team in Europe.
PSG striker Mbappe, 20, and Man Utd midfielder Pogba, 26, won the World Cup with France last summer and Zidane is eyeing his countrymen to bring success back to the Bernabeu. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Belgium playmaker Hazard is a key addition for Real’s “ambitious project”, says the Mail.
AS reports that Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is keen to see his former Chelsea team-mate and fellow Belgian Hazard join him in the Spanish capital.
Courtois said: “I don’t know if he is going to sign for Real Madrid, nor do I know if the club want him. For me, he is a great player, but I don’t decide those things.
“Each one decides what he does with his life. For me, he is one of the best in the world and as a friend I would like him to be here.”
Real revolution
Marca reporter Nacho Labarga says Zidane wants an attacking “revolution” and one player who could “shake up” the strikeforce is Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.
Labarga writes: “[Zidane] hopes to sign a player with electric pace who can play on either flank, with Sadio Mane having emerged as a key target for the coach.
“He can change games with his incredible turn of pace, he takes the ball well into feet and he can make defenders miserable.”
Other players who have also recently been linked with the Spaniards include Tottenham duo Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane and Lyon defensive midfielder Tanguy Ndombélé.
Kane is happy to stay with Spurs, says ESPN, but the north London club must match his ambition to win trophies. With Real interested this could turn the head of the England captain.
AS reports that Ndombélé, 22, is also on Zidane’s radar to cover the likely departure of Marcos Llorente or Casemiro. However, Real could face competition from PSG and Manchester City for Ndombélé’s signature.
Hazard is not the only Chelsea star in Real’s sights. Earlier this week the Daily Star reported that N’Golo Kante will be Real’s No.1 transfer target at the end of the season. However, the 27-year-old has brushed off the rumours.
Kroos, Bale and Varane to leave the Bernabeu?
The Mail reports that with Pogba on Zidane’s wish-list this could mean an exit for midfielder Toni Kroos.
German Kroos has been linked with Manchester United, as has Welsh forward Gareth Bale. AS says that Real have decided to sell Bale this summer in order to finance Zidane’s “purchase of a galactico”.
Another big-money departure could be French defender Raphael Varane. Spanish publication Sport reported this week that the World Cup winner is wanted by Juventus, Manchester United, PSG and Bayern Munich.
