Real Madrid Transfer News: World-Class Stars Expected to Complete January Move

All is well under Carlo Ancelotti's command at present, with Real Madrid swanning their way to the La Liga summit this past weekend, but the pursuit of perfection is never truly an accomplished goal.

Los Merengues will head into this January transfer window with the intention of improving their squad even more after a successful summer of business, with big names linked with arrivals and departures in Madrid.

Read on for a breakdown of the latest speculation related to the Spanish giants' transfer hunt, with a midfield misfit linked with an exit from the Bernabeu ranks.

Asier Illarramendi

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Despite the excitement upon his 2013 arrival from Real Sociedad, Asier Illarramendi has struggled to hit the heights expected of him at Real, and his bit-part status at the club could lead to a 2015 exit.

Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in taking the midfield anchor out of his Real Madrid limbo, according to Ben Jeffferson of the Express, with both permanent and temporary options being investigated.

To sign the 24-year-old on a long-term deal, it's reported that clubs would be expected to pay a fee of £25 million, but Football Italia says that Milan are looking to challenge with a short-term offer:

Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t GianlucaDiMarzio's David Amoyal) quotes the player on saying he still envisions a successful future for himself in the Spanish capital:

To say Illarramendi has become a peripheral figure under Ancelotti would be appropriate, given that he's made seven La Liga appearances this term, but started just once.

As OptaJose shows, though, that one start against Elche did showcase the player's passing potential, but competing with the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos is no easy task:

If any of his Real Sociedad potency has not been lost, Illarramendi could still grow to become an elite asset, but chances at the Bernabeu have been slim.

England's giants are currently at the head of the queue to offer Ancelotti's fringe talent a route out of Madrid, and a loan transfer could be beneficial for all parties.

Hugo Lloris

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

The goalkeeper battle has been a hotbed of speculation at Real in 2014, and it seems interest in Hugo Lloris' signature could lead to yet more controversy next year.

Tony Banks of the Express writes that Ancelotti's side are preparing a £20 million move for the Frenchman, who signed a new five-year contract at White Hart Lane last summer.

Among the inconsistencies in north London, Lloris has stood out as a more reliable figure, and as Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com and the Daily Mail's Neil Ashton state, he's capable of accomplishing more:

Mauricio Pochettino has struggled to keep up with the rest of his fellow top-four contenders this season, but Iker Casillas remains the first choice under Ancelotti for now.

Having seemingly come close to an exit before Diego Lopez's move to Milan, though, Casillas may not yet be entirely safe among Los Blancos' ranks, and 27-year-old Lloris might be seen as a big improvement in the long term.