Real Madrid Transfer News: Javier Hernandez Deal Put at Risk by Inflated Fee

Javier Hernandez's fast start to his Real Madrid career has prompted manager Carlo Ancelotti to ponder a permanent deal for the on-loan striker, something which the Mexican is more than keen on, per Jack Watson at Squawka (via Fichajes, in Spanish).

As back-up to Karim Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu, Hernandez has scored three goals in his four appearances for the Spanish giants, with three of those outings coming from the bench.

As Watson points out, Hernandez fell out of favour with Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, but the Dutchman is holding out for a fee of £17 million for the striker's permanent transfer, according to Anthony Chapman of The Express.

Ancelotti, however, believes a fee of £12 million is more realistic, as stated by Chapman, double what United paid for him in his 2010 move from Guadalajara (h/t manutd24.com). 

Hernandez clearly does not fit in Van Gaal's plans at Old Trafford, so clinging on for such an inflated fee is not in the interests of any of the parties involved.

As fees for back-up strikers go, £17 million could buy Real Madrid a lot more than the poacher that is Hernandez. See Danny Welbeck's £16 million move to Arsenal, for example.

While the England forward didn't find the net as often as Hernandez at Old Trafford, his worth to the team when the opposition are in possession is immense.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Hernandez, on the other hand, only offers the team something when they are on the front foot, as stated by Bleacher Report's own Kyle Diller: 

"

Hernandez is the prime example of a poacher, and a very good one at that. He plays right along the defenders, attempting to break the offside trap with intelligent runs and blistering pace.

Rarely do you see Hernandez track back to defend, nor does he get substantially involved in the build-up play. That is not a slight against him, it simply isn't his job.

"

And, while not in the same league in terms of quality, Chelsea bagged Loic Remy for £8.5 million in the summer, who netted 14 goals in 26 appearances for Newcastle last season.

Sure, £17 million is small change for a free-spending club like Real Madrid, but even chairman Florentino Perez would be reluctant to pay such a price when his European rivals are spending much less.

The diminutive Mexican has started just one game for Real, and has remained on the bench in four of their last six matches.

Ancelotti, though, sees Hernandez as the antithesis to Benzema and states that is what makes him such a valuable commodity for Real.

"Javier has different characteristics and Benzema might, occasionally, be more frustrated in the games that we have more trouble breaking the opposing defensive line down and need more depth," he said, per Stephen Pickering of HITC.

Christian Palma/Associated Press

But Hernandez's marketing power in his home nation could spur Perez to part with the extra cash. Soccerly states that his signing could see Madrid overtake Barcelona as the leaders in the Latin American market. 

The striker could even be used as a makeweight in potential moves by Manchester United for Sami Khedira or even Gareth Bale should such transfers come to fruition in January, as was rumoured during their pursuit of Arturo Vidal in the summer by Ian Herbert at The Independent. 

Van Gaal is unlikely to settle for less than the £17 million agreed in the original loan deal. With his spending spree at Old Trafford set to continue in January the United boss will need all the cash he can get.

Money talks for Madrid, and it's hard to see them letting Hernandez leave, but expect to see Manchester United drive a hard bargain until the end.