Real Madrid Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of November 24

Real Madrid are currently in the midst of an excellent run of form, but that has done little to slow rumours regarding possible purchases and sales in the upcoming January transfer window.

The following slides will keep you up to date with any news and rumours surrounding the team's transfer activity this week.

Done Deals

In: Javier Hernandez (Manchester United, loan), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Monaco) and Keylor Navas (Levante)

Out: Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich), Angel Di Maria (Manchester United), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Jesus Fernandez (Levante), Casemiro (Porto, loan) and Diego Lopez (AC Milan)

Last updated: Wednesday, November 26

Iker Casillas

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Friday, November 28

David Wright of the Daily Star reports that English clubs Arsenal and Liverpool could make a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the January transfer window.

Wright cites unnamed Spanish reports in claiming that Casillas is unhappy at the Bernabeu following Carlo Ancelotti's decision to pick reserve goalkeeper Keylor Navas for Madrid's 1-0 win over Basel on Wednesday.

This has apparently alerted Arsenal and Liverpool, both of whom would be willing to pay £4 million for the 33-year-old.

Casillas has, though, started all but three of Madrid's league and Champions League matches so far this season—a vast improvement over last season, when he was forced to play second fiddle to Diego Lopez in La Liga. In my opinion, at least, these reports should be taken with a large grain of salt.

Lucas Silva

Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

Wednesday, November 26

Alvaro de la Rosa of AS reports that Real Madrid have opened talks with Brazilian champions Cruzeiro regarding a possible move for midfielder Lucas Silva.

He states that Madrid have been quoted a price of €15 million for the 21-year-old, who is also attracting attention from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Internazionale, Juventus and Roma.

Madrid had initially viewed Silva as a replacement for Sami Khedira, but De la Rosa writes that they will press ahead with a move for the youngster regardless of whether or not Khedira elects to stay at the Bernabeu.

Marco Asensio

Wednesday, November 26

Mallorca sporting director Miguel Angel Nadal has revealed that his nephew, tennis star Rafael Nadal, acted as an intermediary in the discussions that led to Marco Asensio signing for Real Madrid.

"The contact that I've had with Real Madrid has been through my nephew Rafa," he told the local IB3 television station (h/t Marca).

Rafael Nadal is a Real Madrid supporter but was also a shareholder at Mallorca, his local club, until three years ago.

Monday, November 24

Jose Felix Diaz of Marca reports that Real Madrid have agreed a €3.5 million fee for Real Mallorca youngster Marco Asensio.

Barcelona have previously been linked with the 18-year-old, who has represented Spain at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level. Per Soccerway, he has started 13 of Mallorca's 14 Segunda Division matches so far this season and scored three goals.

Diaz states that the purchase of Asensio is the latest result of Madrid's new focus on promising young talents who have the necessary quality to become part of the first-team squad shortly after joining. He cites the signing of 16-year-old Ajax starlet Mink Peeters this summer as the first such purchase and notes the club's continued interest in the Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard.

Manu Sainz of AS later confirmed that Asensio will stay on loan at Mallorca for the remainder of the 2014-15 season and will then be loaned out to a Primera Division side for the subsequent campaign. That side will be Mallorca if the Islanders are promoted this season.

Pedro Chirivella

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Tuesday, November 25

Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail reports that Real Madrid are set to step up their interest in Liverpool youngster Pedro Chirivella.

Liverpool beat both Madrid and Barcelona to Chirivella's signature when they purchased him from Valencia last year, but Madrid still hold a strong interest in the midfielder and could make that interest concrete in the coming weeks.

The 17-year-old has been compared to former Liverpool and Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso for his range of passing and ability to read the game.

Per Soccerway, he has made two substitute appearances for the Reds during this year's UEFA Youth League group stage.

Carlo Ancelotti

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Monday, November 24

Jose Felix Diaz of Marca reports that Real Madrid will this week open contract extension talks with coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian's current deal expires in 2016 and a one-year extension will be discussed.

Diaz reports that Ancelotti has the full support of president Florentino Perez and the rest of the Madrid directors. With this in mind, he suggests that the talks are likely to progress quickly.

Indeed, it is possible that the contract extension could be agreed and formally announced to the press before the end of the year.