Transfer Rumour Rater: Angel Di Maria to Monaco in the January Window

With Gareth Bale joining Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu in the summer, somebody at Real Madrid was always going to end up getting shut out.

That somebody was always likely to be Angel Di Maria, too, and the Argentine winger is now reportedly targeting a move away from the Spanish capital, with mega-rich Monaco apparently his favoured destination.

As reported by talkSPORT, Di Maria is ready to fend off interest from Premier League duo Arsenal and Manchester United in order to secure a move to Ligue 1, with the player's agent Jorge Mendes believed to be the key factor in the move.

According to the talkSPORT report, which cites the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, "Mendes already has links with Monaco" due to other players he represents at the club.

Perhaps with an eye on the World Cup in the summer Di Maria will be eager to get some guaranteed minutes on the pitch, something that he wasn't earning in Madrid prior to the current injury being suffered by Ronaldo.

The money on offer at Monaco must also be a tempting factor, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise if this deal ends up being one of the most lucrative of the forthcoming January window.