Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Karim Benzema, Lucas Silva and More

Real Madrid’s willingness to keep hold of Karim Benzema could be severely tested in the January transfer window, with reports suggesting that Liverpool are ready to bid a whopping £50 million to bring the France forward to Anfield.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

According to reports in Spain (h/t David Wright of the Express) Brendan Rodgers is looking to improve his team's ponderous attacking play and is ready to splash the cash to spark a Champions League charge. The piece quotes Spanish journalist Manuel Esteban claiming it’s only a matter of time before Benzema leaves Real:

"

Benzema is on thin ice. If they receive a big bid, they will not be hesitant.

The dream is to combine Kun Aguero, Marco Reus and Cristiano Ronaldo, who would become the best front line in the world of football.

"

Here’s a look at why Liverpool would be willing to part with a record sum for the 27-year-old striker:

It’d be an ideal solution to the Reds’ current issues in the attacking areas of the field, but given Benzema’s recent form for Real, it’s a deal that’s very unlikely to happen, especially mid-season. Bleacher Report French football expert Andrew Gibney found the prospects pretty humorous:

Benzema may not play with the same swagger as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but he’s integral to the way Los Blancos' attacking triumvirate functions. He links the play superbly, makes exceptional, intelligent runs and he finishes with pinpoint accuracy.

Ronaldo had some very positive words to say about his team-mate earlier in the season, as noted by B/R UK:

The man who’s been second in command to Benzema at Madrid is Javier Hernandez, and the Mexican’s agent has insisted that the player will not have his loan from Manchester United cut short despite his lack of game time in the Spanish capital, per Sean Gallagher of the Mail Online:

"

Sometimes the media speculate too much and assume situations. [Hernandez] will not leave the club [in January].

He is eager to play more minutes but he knows that hard work will open up more opportunities. He has his future ahead of him.

"

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Hernandez doesn't bring as wide a range of skills to the table as Benzema, but if Real are toiling in a game and in desperate need of goal, he’s a player who is as good as any at buying a yard and sticking a chance away. With Los Blancos looking likely to go far in a host of competitions, that characteristic could be vital and, subsequently, Chicharito could still have a key role to play.

Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Indeed, given the exceptional run Real are currently on—21 wins in a row at the time of writing—it’s difficult to see Carlo Ancelotti sanctioning the sale of any of his players. If anything, expect a few new faces to come in, refresh the squad and keep spirits high for the second part of the season. 

One player who's looking increasingly unlikely to join up with the European champions, though, is Lucas Silva.

According to Marca, Ancelotti is having second thoughts about signing the Cruzeiro man after Luka Modric has made unexpectedly positive progress in his recovery from injury. However, the piece claims that club president Florentino Perez remains keen on pushing the transfer through.

Here’s a look at why Silva has been touted as a potential signing for Real and a host of Europe’s most illustrious teams, per David Wright of the Express:

Former Los Blancos left-back Roberto Carlos thinks the 21-year-old would be an exceptional purchase, per RMadridHome:

"

Roberto Carlos: "If Real Madrid signs Lucas Silva, they'll be signing an amazing player. He's a leader on the pitch & he won't disappoint."

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) December 18, 2014"

From the player's point of view, the collapse of this move could well be a blessing in disguise. While Silva has admitted that it would be a dream to play at the Santiago Bernabeu, per Sky Sports, it’s imperative he continues to play football regularly and improve the skills that have made him such a coveted talent. 

At Madrid, he simply wouldn’t be afforded the opportunity to continue developing. If Modric returns, that’d push Silva—who still has plenty to learn—even further down the pecking order, and he’d have to vie with the likes of Toni Kroos, Isco, Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi for a place in the squad, never mind the first team itself.