Real Madrid Transfer News: Fresh Rumours on Leonardo Bonucci and James Rodriguez

Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci has reportedly emerged as a summer transfer target for Real Madrid.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato), Los Blancos, Manchester City and Chelsea all want to sign the Italy international at the end of the season. Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to be ready to part with €60 million (£51 million) to tempt Juventus into a sale.

Bonucci has cemented a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the world, shining at the base of the team in recent seasons as Juventus have dominated Serie A:

However, his position at the club has come in for some scrutiny recently after it was confirmed there had been an argument between Bonucci and manager Massimiliano Allegri. 

As noted by Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC, the coach was unhappy with the player after a dispute in the latter stages of the recent 4-1 win over Palermo in Serie A and Bonucci was subsequently dropped for the UEFA Champions League clash with Porto on Wednesday. Allegri has recently insisted the matter is closed, though, per Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby:

If there are any lingering tensions, it’d be no surprise to see many clubs seek to capitalise on the row; for Madrid, the 29-year-old would be a magnificent acquisition.

With Pepe’s contract up at the end of the campaign and Raphael Varane inconsistent, manager Zinedine Zidane may feel as though he needs to acquire an enforcer to line up alongside skipper Sergio Ramos. Bonucci would fit the bill.

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Not only is the Juventus man aggressive and intelligent in his defensive play, he’s wonderful on the ball, regularly stepping up into midfield and getting attacks started. Per James Horncastle of BT Sport, the Italian champions have great depth in his position:

Whether Bonucci and Allegri have made peace or not, Madrid have the wealth and pulling power to potentially prise the player away if their interest is genuine.

However, with Pepe potentially on the way out, Zidane could give some younger players a chance to make a case to start regularly. Varane will feel he deserves a chance having been the Portuguese's deputy for so long, while 20-year-old Jesus Vallejo, on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, represents another exciting option.

James Rodriguez, Jeison Murillo Exchange Rumours

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According to Tuttosport (h/t Calciomercato), Inter Milan are happy to include defender Jeison Murillo as part of a deal for Real Madrid’s out-of-favour playmaker James Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has struggled to cement his place in the Los Blancos side under Zidane, and there’s been plenty of speculation about his future as a result. Tuttosport and Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) claimed Perez held talks with Inter owner Zhang Jindong over a possible switch on Friday.

After a sensational first season with Madrid, Rodriguez has seen his stock fall, with Zidane utilising a more cohesive setup. 

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However, as noted by Marca, the Colombian looks to have been working harder in defence in recent outings:

AS (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express) has linked Real with a move for Murillo in the past, and it’d be no surprise if the European champions were on the lookout for a new centre-back at the end of the season.

Murillo is now getting regular minutes at the San Siro after a difficult start to the 2016-17 season, so there won’t be any great desperation on his part to change clubs. Rodriguez, by contrast, is a footballer who looks like he’d benefit enormously from a change of scenery.