Real Madrid Transfer News and Rumors Tracker: Week of August 19

Welcome to your one-stop shop for all the latest news and rumors, however feasible or far-fetched they may be, from the Santiago Bernabeu.

One new signing, Isco, has already started to pay back some of his price tag by scoring a late winner in the opening round of La Liga against Real Betis—but does Madrid's 2-1 win suggest they still need reinforcements?

One particular player seems the obvious candidate to join the club, if anyone, but would they be better served signing a No. 9?

This slideshow will be constantly updated throughout the week with the most recent news, rumors and rubbish pushed to the first few slides.

With that in mind, make sure you're continuously heading back—you wouldn't want to miss anything. 

Confirmed in: Casemiro (Sao Paulo), Isco (Malaga), Dani Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen), Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad)

Confirmed out: Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Jose Callejon, Gonzalo Higuain and Raul Albiol (Napoli) 

---LAST UPDATED: Thursday, August 22 at 0730 ET---

Karim Benzema

Arsenal could be set to table a £40 million bid for Madrid's Karim Benzema, according to Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph.

Arsene Wenger's search for a striker has so far proved futile this summer, with advances for Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez both coming to nothing.

Wilson suggests there is genuine hope that Benzema, who Wenger has tracked for a number of years, could become available, as Los Blancos look to balance their books with the possible arrival Gareth Bale looming for a rather large figure.

Marca have spent the summer building Benzema up though, with it thought that Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti's No. 2, is keen to see his fellow countryman succeed at the Bernabeu.

If that is true, it could be another case of false hope for Arsenal supporters.

---LAST UPDATED: Thursday, August 22 at 0730 ET---

Angel Di Maria

There could yet be a twist in the future of Angel di Maria before the transfer window closes.

The Argentinian has been linked with a variety of clubs this summer, but it seemed as though the interest had fizzled out amid Real Madrid's desire to keep him.

However, reports in Le Parisien, are suggesting that PSG still maitain a healthy interest in the 25-year-old, via football-espana.

His non-EU status is proving a barrier in their hopes to land him though.

Di Maria started the season opener on the bench, and if Gareth Bale arrives he could find himself further down the Bernabeu pecking order.

UPDATE: With Gareth Bale speculation still rife, so too are the rumors surrounding Angel di Maria. Arsenal are the latest to be linked with the winger, with The Metro reporting he could replace Lukas Podolski should the German leave The Emirates. 

---LAST UPDATED: Thursday, August 22 at 0730 ET---

Alex Fernandez

Reports in Spain are suggesting that Espanyol may be about to sign Real Madrid youngster Alex Fernandez, brother of Nacho, after the 20-year-old decided not to sign a new contract, via football-espana.net.

The article goes on to speculate that Javier Aguirre (pictured), Espanyol's manager, would in turn offer Real Madrid Castilla Cristian Gomez on loan for a season, with the option to buy.

Fernandez has made one senior appearance for Los Blancos, and is thought to have other offers to consider too.

---LAST UPDATED: Thursday, August 22 at 0730 ET---

Iker Casillas

Let the fun and games begin.

When Carlo Ancelotti selected Diego Lopez in goal for Real Madrid's opener against Real Betis, it was just a matter of time until the press went Iker Casillas-mad again.

But instead of talking about in-fighting this time, it's moves away from the Bernabeu which adorn the sports pages.

The Daily Mail are reporting that Arsenal are one of the clubs set to take advantage of the situation, suggesting Arsene Wenger is keen to make a move on the Spanish 'keeper.

News in Spain suggests a more dramatic turn in San Iker's career, with Cuatro's Tiki-Taka program speculating Barcelona could be tempted by the stopper with Victor Valdes running down his contract, via football-espana.

---LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, August 21 at 0700 ET---

Gareth Bale

A report in Italy is suggesting that Garet Bale's dragged out transfer to Real Madrid is at long last close to going through, via football-espana.net.

Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio has, as of Tuesday morning (CET), been tweeting that the move to take the Tottenham star to the Spanish capital has been agreed.

He's saying that a £93 million deal has been struck, and that Fabio Coentrao will be included in the transfer.

It's unclear whether the Portuguese full-back is on top of the mentioned fee though, or part of it.

Expect more as the day grows older.

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, August 20 at 0900 ET---

Guilherme Siqueira

ESPN's Dermot Corrigan says that Real Madrid have lined up the signing of Guilherme Siqueira to accommodate for the loss of Fabio Coentrao as part of the Gareth Bale deal.

The Brazilian full back had previously been linked with Liverpool, but is expected to rubber-stamp his move to the Bernabeu when the two club's executives meet at next Monday's fixture between the two sides.

Siqueira didn't feature in Granada's opening day win over Osasuna, and is said to have trained away from the rest of the first team throughout preseason.

He will battled with Marcelo for a regular slot at left-back in Carlo Ancelotti's team.

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, August 20 at 0900 ET---

Denis Cheryshev

AS say that one stipulation of any Guilherme Siqueira deal would be that Denis Cheryshev would be allowed to join Granada on loan for the season, via Dermot Corrigan.

The Russian has just signed a new deal at the Bernabeu, but is unlikely to find first team minutes easy to come by.

Now 22, and turning 23 in December, it is vital for his progress that he gets some regular minutes under his belt at a good level.

---LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, August 20 at 0900 ET---

Radamel Falcao

According to Marca, Real Madrid have turned down the chance to sign Radamel Falcao, via football-espana.net.

The Colombian only left Atletico Madrid for Monaco this summer, but it is already being speculated that he is unhappy in the French league.

The article suggests El Tigre feels let down by Russian owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, and that he was recruited under false pretenses. 

Florentino Perez supposedly turned down the offer the offer though, instead preferring to continue his one-man mission to land Bale.

---LAST UPDATED: Monday, August 19 at 0600 ET---

Fabio Coentrao

There's been no shortage of hearsay that Fabio Coentrao is desperate to leave the Bernabeu this summer, yet the Bernabeu is where he remains. 

The Portuguese international was not called up for the Real Betis win, with AS reporting that it was because he had asked not to be included.

Marca ran the same story, and included quotes from manager Carlo Ancelotti confirming the left-back still wants out of the Spanish capital: "Coentrao has told Real Madrid he wants to leave and as a result he is not in the squad to play against Betis."

The next step is for the interested parties—Tottenham, Benfica, Chelsea and Monaco to name a few—to meet the players valuation.

---LAST UPDATED: Monday, August 19 at 0600 ET---