Real Madrid Transfer News: Dani Ceballos Decision, Latest Mateo Kovacic Rumours

Real Betis midfielder and reported Real Madrid target Dani Ceballos has decided to delay a decision on his future after previously hinting he was close to making a call. Elsewhere, Manchester United are said to be targeting Mateo Kovacic.

Ceballos has been heavily linked with Los Blancos and recently suggested he would reveal his plans after the 2017 European Under-21 Championship, but the trickster has opted to take more time before coming to a conclusion.

After losing 1-0 to Germany in Friday's final, he told reporters: "I'm screwed up, and I do not think about the future now. I want to disconnect, spend my holiday with the family and, after a couple of weeks, I'll start to see proposals and think about my future."

Ceballos was named Player of the Tournament despite Spain's fall to Germany in the final in Poland, and he finds himself in esteemed company among other stars to have previously won the award:

As mentioned in the previously linked report, Barcelona have also been closely associated with a move for the midfielder. And Betis president Angel Haro recently distanced his star from a move to Real. 

Despite reports from Spanish daily AS stating the 20-year-old would become Los Blancos' first summer signing, Haro dismissed the suggestion when appearing on Canal Sur TV (h/t ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia):

"There are no ongoing negotiations with any club. We would like him to remain at Betis and we will do all that we can for that to happen, but it doesn't only depend on us but on several parties."

"It would be in Betis' best interest for him to remain as long as possible and for him to help us win titles. Next season we want to have a leap in quality."

Ceballos lit up the European Under-21 Championship and lived up to his billing as one to watch. Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe recently noted his potential as an underlying superstar:

Meanwhile, United manager Jose Mourinho will reportedly target Real midfielder Kovacic after hopefully sealing a move for Los Merengues striker Alvaro Morata, who has also been linked with the Red Devils.

According to Spanish outlet Diario Madridista (h/t Liam Spence of the Daily Express), United are willing to double Kovacic's wages to tempt him to England, and Yahoo's Andrew Gaffney previously suggested the Croatia international might be a worthy investment:

After paying his dues as a fringe figure at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the 23-year-old is beginning to grow into his boots as a more senior figure for Real. However, that means he's someone manager Zinedine Zidane likely won't want to lose.

What's more, it's suggested Kovacic's agent, Nikky Vuksan, has said his client doesn't want to leave anytime soon, telling Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Spence): "Kovacic will not leave Real Madrid. He will stay. [I can] safely [say that]. All the rest is not true.”