Big-Money Buys on Real Madrid's Radar

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has brought out the cheque book in a big way this summer. If he has it his way, the spending will continue, too.

One particular Welsh international is never far from the words "Madrid" and "transfer," as sums of money unimaginable to most people continue to be bandied about.

However, it's not just that specific player Los Blancos are continuously linked with, despite securing four new players already during the current window. There are others, too.

The following slides take a look at some of the players who could yet end up at the Bernabeu before all this transfer debauchery is put to an end and we can focus on the football again...

Gareth Bale

"There could be a light at the end of the tunnel," said Marca on Thursday, talking about the long-running transfer saga linking Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

Ever since Madrid made a €96 million bid for the Welshman, a deal has looked likely. And, following a series of meetings in Miami, the Spanish newspaper suggests club chairmen Florentino Perez and Daniel Levy could be close to at last putting an end to the saga.

Glitches such as how the fee would be paid and whether Los Blancos would include any players have supposedly been ironed out—the two parties agreeing that any deals for other players would be concluded separately.

If, or when, the deal eventually goes through, it will take the Spanish club's spending for the summer to well over €150 million.

Yet despite an excellent season in the Premier League, Madrid's fans remain unconvinced whether Bale is deserving of becoming the world's most expensive player ever. 

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez got all ironic in an interview released on Tuesday night when he used the English press—who he has previously not spoken well of—to plea for a move from Liverpool, via The Guardian.

Arsenal, who have already had a £40,000,001 bid rejected, are thought to be the front-runners for the striker, who's desperate for Champions League football.

The Independent have reported that Suarez would prefer a move to Real Madrid, although Los Blancos' interest in securing the Uruguayan is far from as obvious as their desire to land Gareth Bale—the player himself has even admitted to no contact from Madrid, via ESPN.

With Gonzalo Higuain having departed for Napoli, though, there could be room for another forward at the Bernabeu.

However, a new deal for Jese Rodriguez and the inclusion of Alvaro Morata in preseason suggests that Carlo Ancelotti may not be looking to add too many more players to the attacking half of his squad—other than Bale.

Giorgio Chiellini

One big-money buy that seems to have slipped off Real Madrid's radar, if it was ever really on it, is Juventus' Giorgio Chiellini.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has suggested the Spanish side would test the Serie A champions' desire to keep the 28-year-old defender with a bid of around €20-22 million (via Football Espana).

Talking to Tuttosport (via Yahoo!), Chiellini dismissed the link as "fantasy football."

The only thing that could possibly resurface this flagging rumour is if Pepe's continued link to Manchester City develops into an actual transfer to the English club, via The Express.

Only then may we see Carlo Ancelotti making an actual move for his compatriot. 

Geoffrey Kondogbia

Sevilla's strong midfielder received a call-up to the full France squad on Thursday after he was instrumental in Les Bleus' Under-20 World Cup success in Turkey this summer.

And as he continues to make huge strides in the game, it seems likely that he will eventually leave the Andalusian side in a big-money move—Real Madrid are already interested.

Toward the end of July, Marca reported that Los Blancos had reignited their interest in the 20-year-old. The report suggested a €15 million deal could be struck with Sevilla and The Doyen Group, who own 50 percent of the player.

Having already signed Asier Illarramendi, plus the host of midfielders already at the club, it's unlikely there will be room for Kondogbia at the Bernabeu this season. That would mean if they do shell out for him before the window shuts, he'll likely spend next season back at Sevilla on loan.