Fabio Coentrao Transfer Rumours: Latest News on the Real Madrid Star Week Nov 25

Fabio Coentrao has appeared in just four games for Real Madrid this season.

The Portuguese defender came close to signing for Manchester United over the summer, until a move failed to go through on transfer deadline day.

As the January transfer window approaches, so too does speculation linking him with a move away from the Bernabeu.

It's also been reported that the 25-year-old is on the brink of signing a new contract with Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Will he stay to fight for his place or will he leave—in search of regular football ahead of the 2014 World Cup?

We are going to monitor Coentrao's transfer situation right here over the coming weeks, so keep checking back for updates.

—LAST UPDATE: Friday, November 29—

A Switch to Stamford Bridge?

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is considering a January loan move for Fabio Coentrao, according to Matt Barlow in the Daily Mail. 

The story claims that Mourinho is looking for a replacement for Ashley Cole, who will be out of contract at the end of the season. It also suggests that a move for the 25-year-old could buy time for the club to complete the signings of Southampton's Luke Shaw and Sevilla's Alberto Moreno in the summer.

Barlow goes on to say that Chelsea would look to sign to sign Coentrao permanently after six months if he "takes to English football."

The Real Madrid left-back shares the same agent as Mourinho, in Jorge Mendes.

Coentrao: A New Contract with Madrid?

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It has not been confirmed, but the latest gossip suggests that a contract extension may be in the offing for Fabio Coentrao at Real Madrid.

The left-back joined the side from Benfica in 2011 when he signed an initial six-year deal.

As reported by Duncan Castles on Oneworldsports.com, the rumoured extension would run until 2018 and appears to have been agreed "weeks ago," with a formal announcement still to be made by the La Liga club.

We will be keeping close tabs on this story, so stay tuned for official news from Real Madrid.

Tottenham Keen on January Move

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According to ESPN.co.uk, Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Fabio Coentrao in January.

Injuries have left the London side with a lack of options at left-back, forcing Andre Villas-Boas to field central defender Jan Vertonghen out of position.

As seen in an article by the Daily Mail's John Drayton, Spurs tried to sign the Portugal international over the summer as part of the deal which saw Gareth Bale swap White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu, but a move did not materialize.

Drayton suggests that a loan deal may be the best move for both parties when the window opens on January 1. 

Manchester United: Chasing Coentrao

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Manchester United missed out on Fabio Coentrao during the summer transfer window with a move breaking down on deadline day, as reported on the BBC Sport website.

In the weeks that followed, it emerged that Coentrao was pleased that the deal fell through. He told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, via ESPNfc.com:

"

There was the possibility of joining Manchester United, but I stayed at Real Madrid, and that's what matters. It would have been bad if I had to stay despite having the chance to move to a better club, but that didn't happen as I already am at the best club in the world.

I want to do better than I did last season, although I was at a very high level already. I want to show everyone that I deserve to be at Real Madrid.

"

This was in stark contrast to other stories, which suggested that Coentrao was "reduced to tears" when he failed to get a switch to Old Trafford, as seen from Ben Jefferson in the Express.

Whatever the case, Manchester United are said to be pursuing Coentrao once more. In the Daily Mail, John Edwards claims that David Moyes is prepared to go "head-to-head" with Spurs in January.