It's the business end of the season, and Real Madrid are not wasting time. The club is already thinking about next season, and the players they need for it.
Reports suggest that Zinedine Zidane and Florentino Perez met recently and they have decided on the list of players they want to be signed in the summer transfer window. The manager is keen on signing young talents while the president wants world class and proven stars that are marketable.
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Perez is planning Galacticos V3 at Bernabeu and is keen on making it happen this summer. After a lengthy discussion, they finally concluded on a list of 7-8, and according to Spanish publications, these are the top five players that Los Blancos want to sign in the summer:
#5 David de Gea
Florentino Perez has been trying to sign David de Gea for a long time now. The Real Madrid president saw him as the long-term replacement for Iker Casillas, but a problem with the fax machine ended the signing of the Spanish goalkeeper.
Keylor Navas is said to be holding 'secret talks' with Lazio regarding a move to the Italian club in the summer as he is not sure if he'll be Madrid's first choice next season. The club wants to sign a young shot-stopper, and Navas knows that he won't get selected over any new signing.
de Gea has been Manchester United's best player for the last 2-3 seasons and has been the main reason for their push for a Top 4 finish. The keeper signed a new long-term contract at Manchester United after his failed move to Madrid in 2014, but the player had a €60 million release clause added to the contract.
Real Madrid would be more than happy to meet the release clause of the United shot-stopper than getting into a negotiation with Chelsea for Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian was Madrid's #2 choice after de Gea, but they know that The Blues will not let him leave for cheap.
#4 Marco Verratti
Zidane is said to be keen on signing the Paris Saint-German star this summer. The Italian is seen a long-term replacement for Luka Modric by the Real Madrid manager and the president is also keen on signing him.
Los Blancos face fierce competition from Barcelona for the PSG star as the Catalans want him to replace Andreas Iniesta at Camp Nou. Another club in the running for Verratti is Chelsea, managed by the midfielder's favourite manager, Antonio Conte.
Verratti would be a great addition to the Madrid squad, and him along with Casemiro and Modric might turn out to be one of the best midfield trios in the world. The French club have slapped a £70 million price tag on the 24-year-old midfielder, but with competition from Barcelona and Chelsea, the price will only go up.
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are also said to be huge fans of the Italian midfielder, and the two Manchester clubs might also end up bidding for him.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been sending 'come and get me' pleas to Real Madrid for a long time now. And this summer, it might just happen.
The Borussia Dortmund striker has always said that it is his grand father's dream to see him play for the Madrid giants. He has been on Madrid's list of targets as well, but this season, Zidane wanted to trust Morata and Benzema.
The two Real Madrid strikers have failed to live up to expectations, and the club has now decided to pursue their striker targets. Dortmund are said to be demanding at least £75 million for the Gabonese striker.
The 27-year-old dropped yet another hint recently by saying, “I feel very good here because of the magnificent fans [at Dortmund]. It is a big club. However, I am asking myself this question, If I want to take the next step, should I not leave? Real Madrid is still a dream.”
Aubameyang is seen as a replacement and an upgrade to Benzema by Zidane. The manager is said to have lost his faith in the Frenchman and wants him replaced in the summer.
#2 Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala - the striker Florentino Perez wants to be signed at any cost. The Juventus striker has attracted interest from several clubs in recent times, and Perez does not want him to join any other club.
Reports in early January suggested that the striker has agreed a move to Bernabeu but will sign a new contract at Juventus, so that Madrid can activate his release clause. The striker is seen a replacement for Alvaro Morata, who has told his friends that he is moving to Chelsea in the summer.
The Argentine is not happy at Juventus this season as he's no longer their #1 choice. Gonzalo Higuain, the €90 million signing from Napoli in the summer, is preferred striker for Allegri and Dybala is looking for a move away.
Barcelona are also keen on signing Dybala and want Lionel Messi to persuade the Argentine to join them. However, the Juventus man does not want to move to the Catalan giants as he believes he won't be able to make it into the starting XI ahead of Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
#1 Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is reportedly the #1 target for Real Madrid this summer. Los Blancos are ready to offer James Rodriguez and/or Isco in the deal to get the Belgian to Bernabeu.
Chelsea are reluctant to let the former Lille star leave, but the player is said to be keen on working with Zidane. The Blues will reportedly demand a world record fee if they are let go of the winger.
Hazard has openly claimed that he would love to work with his idol, Zidane in his career. Speaking to Belgian newspaper La Gazette, Hazard revealed, “I have always appreciated Zidane. I know about him as a player but not so much as a coach, although he has been very successful debut at the Bernabeu. But I am still under contract at Chelsea, and I feel fine.”
The Real Madrid manager has not hidden his admiration for the Belgian as well. He has claimed that Hazard is the 3rd best player in the world - right behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
