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Barring their UEFA Champions League campaign, Real Madrid have had a torrid season by their usual standards and it's only fair to expect activity from them in the next transfer window.
With several issues to be addressed, Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane may just look outwards and flex their financial muscles to bring in a new Galactico. Further, with the season approaching its culmination, transfer rumours are only being circulated thick and fast.
On that note, here is a look at some of the top transfer stories of the day pertaining to Real Madrid:
Real Madrid could sign Neymar for €270 million before the World Cup
Despite having moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222 million just this season, reports from The Daily Express claim that the Brazilian superstar could well be on his way to Real Madrid this summer.
The report claims that Madrid would like to replace Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale with Neymar and Mohamed Salah, who they have reportedly placed alongside Neymar at the top of their wishlist.
Contracted at PSG until 2022, Neymar could set Real Madrid back by a whopping €270 million - nearly €50 million more than what he cost PSG last year.
Meanwhile, reports from AS (via Sky Sports) claim that Neymar had a secret meeting with Real Madrid in March and is allegedly desperate to leave PSG.
With not too long to go before the transfer market opens, expect this particular rumour to gather a lot of hype.
Manchester United to make £62 million bid for Raphael Varane
According to reports that emerged a couple of months ago, Manchester United were very keen on signing Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane, who himself revealed that contact had been made.
Now, the folks over at The Daily Star claim that United's interest was, indeed, very real and that Jose Mourinho could well make a move for the Frenchman in the coming transfer window.
The report further suggests that the Red Devils could submit a bid in the ballpark of £62 million for the 25-year-old.
Varane is also believed to be keen on a reunion with former boss Mourinho, and could be convinced to leave should Real Madrid pursue another centre-back.
Gareth Bale not interested in Liverpool move
Plagued by injuries, often lambasted by his own club's supporters, Gareth Bale hasn't had the best time at Real Madrid and according to reports from Don Balon (via The Daily Express), Bale could indeed leave Real Madrid this summer.
The report also states that Florentino Perez could attempt to use Bale as a part of a cash+player deal that would see Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool in order to join Madrid.
However, Bale might just put a spanner in the works as per the report, which claims that the 28-year-old is simply not interested in moving to Anfield and will only leave La Liga to either join Manchester United or to go back to Tottenham Hotspur.
It certainly looks likely that Bale could be on his way out of Real Madrid this summer and it will be interesting to see how the race for the Welshman unfurls.
