Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Marco Reus, Raheem Sterling and Petr Cech

One couldn't blame Real Madrid for being content with how their 2014-15 campaign is progressing, but the club still hope to improve during the winter transfer window.

Latest speculation surrounding the Bernabeu has a number of world-class names linked with Los Merengues, notably Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund and Raheem Sterling of Liverpool.

Read on for the latest on that duo as well as Chelsea's Petr Cech.

Marco Reus

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Should Dortmund fail to recover from a staggered start to their 2014-15 season, Reus may consider his options in 2015, with Real alleged to be one of only two sides now in the race for his signature.

Spanish newspaper Marca (h/t 101GreatGoals) says Los Blancos can expect a head-on collision with Chelsea if they hope to lure the Black and Yellows' star.

Jurgen Klopp's midfield marvel returned from injury earlier this season and immediately resumed action with bright form. The official Bundesliga Twitter account recently compared his performances with that of former Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze:

Reus' current contract is known to contain a release clause that would see the attacker's price tag fall to €25 million next summer, but the report also alleges Real have first refusal on the player.

Nuri Sahin's switch to the Bernabeu from Dortmund and back again is thought to have rested on an agreement regarding the future signing of Reus, giving Real a marked advantage in the race for his talents.

Raheem Sterling

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Recent months have seen Sterling's star rise higher and higher, but despite the attention thought to be coming from the Spanish capital, England's prodigy remains concentrated on all matters Liverpool.

Sterling currently earns £30,000 a week at Anfield, not a bad wage by any 19-year-old's standards. However, in an effort to swat away Real's stare, Liverpool will offer their starlet a new deal worth £100,000 a week, per Jack Wilson of the Daily Star.

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When asked where he envisions himself in five years' time, Sterling is quoted by Wilson as saying, "Hopefully winning trophies with Liverpool, doing well for England and trying to be at the peak of my game."

Real Madrid would consider themselves able to compete with the Reds in any financial sense, and these are huge amounts of money for Sterling to be tempted with so early in his career.

However, Brendan Rodgers will hope he can provide Sterling with a competitive Liverpool side who can serve his desire to win trophies over the next few years.

Petr Cech

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It's difficult to remember the last time the goalkeeping battle of the Bernabeu wasn't a hotly discussed topic, and increased interest in Chelsea's sidelined shot-stopper Cech is expected in January. The Telegraph's Matt Law confirmed last month that Real are still considering a January swoop.

Czech outlet CTK (h/t Vasek Kadlec of Sky Sports) reports Jose Mourinho's No. 2 as being calm regarding his future, despite having watched Thibaut Courtois usurp the Stamford Bridge No. 1 throne this term:

"

Regarding my future at Chelsea, it depends entirely on the club.

Everyone is asking me what if and what will happen. As a player, who has two years left on his contract, I cannot make the choice. 

It is simple. If the club says, ‘You are staying here,’ then I will be staying. That’s why I’m staying.

I can only leave if the club lets me go. And that is not the case. 

As a player with a two-year contract, I have absolutely no chance of influencing the wishes of the club. 

I am doing my best to change the situation. I want to play as often as possible and be prepared to be as good as possible for the fixtures what will come in the new year.

"

It's an admirable attitude from one who has served the west London club for a decade yet now faces the possibility of sitting on the bench for the majority of the next 18 months.

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After all, if the Blues can convince Cech to stay, they will undoubtedly do all within their power to keep such a talented backup around—and it sounds as though the 32-year-old is only too happy to oblige.

Iker Casillas' form remains a contentious subject both within Real Madrid and Spain ranks, with Costa Rica's Keylor Navas threatening as the current alternative at the Bernabeu.

Neither is as solid or reliable as Cech, though, which may well see Carlo Ancelotti come calling for his former custodian.