Real Madrid Transfer News: Blockbuster Signings Tipped in Latest January Rumours

Despite boasting arguably the finest array of offensive talents in world football, it seems as though Real Madrid are intent on adding to their options at the sharp end of the pitch by signing another burgeoning attacker.

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According to Steve Morgan of the Daily Star, the European champions are set to launch a bid for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling worth up to £35 million. The 20-year-old winger has impressed in a toiling Reds outfit this season, and if reports are to be believed, his effervescent attacking exploits may well have caught the attentions of the European champions.

As noted here by Squawka Football, Sterling has been thrilling to watch as of late:

The report is at odds with various pieces that suggest the England international is set to commit his future to Liverpool in the form of a new five-year deal, including Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo. That’d be a major boost for the Reds especially on the back of the news that club captain Steven Gerrard will leave at the end of the season.

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Daniel Storey of Football365 had a word of warning for Liverpool supporters hoping this agreement keeps Sterling at Anfield for the long term, though:

Real Madrid will always target the brightest young stars in world football, and there is little denying that Sterling belongs in that kind of company. But if he was to make a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in this transfer window or the next, he’d find his opportunities reduced drastically with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in situ.

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For the time being, staying at Anfield and emerging as the club’s talisman in the wake of Gerrard’s departure should be his priority; such is his ability, clubs of the stature of Los Blancos will come knocking again a little bit further down the line.

One player who does look increasingly likely to be joining the European Champions sooner or later is Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus. According to Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star, the German international has agreed to join up with the Santiago Bernabeu club, with several sources in Spain claiming that a deal worth £35 million has been struck.

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If that is the case, here’s what Madridistas can look forward to when the forward eventually dons the iconic white strip:

While reports have suggested that some clubs are looking to sign Reus in the upcoming transfer window, per Bruce Archer of the Daily Star, Bleacher Report’s German football expert Clark Whitney thinks that Dortmund’s own activity points towards a summer move being the most likely outcome:

Carlo Ancelotti currently has a host of effervescent attacking talents to choose from and if Reus was to join, then he’d fit into Madrid’s brash brand of incisive football perfectly. As noted here by Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe, the Dortmund man is a world-class talent capable of flourishing in the top sides on the continent:

But with so many quality sides reportedly interested in the player, it’d be peculiar to see a deal being struck already. Reus—currently out of action because of injury—will surely bide his time when pondering his options moving forward. 

Club president Florentino Perez also claimed the club are not looking at signing the German in January, per Marca (h/t Tom Webber of Goal.com), insisting he’s unsure of which player would make way for him in the side:

"

We follow Reus, as we follow other great players. As a coach, I do not know who would be removed to make room for Reus.

Except for extraordinary circumstances, no signings will be made in the January transfer window and now there is nothing.

"

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But as noted here by John Brewin of ESPN, it's difficult to take everything Perez says as gospel given his history:

All things considered, don’t expect any movement on a deal for Reus until the end of the season. Dortmund are currently in a terrible predicament at the bottom of the Bundesliga, and they’ll be desperate to get their star forward back in the team from January onward and look to push up the table. If they cash in midseason, it could have catastrophic consequences.

Like Sterling, it may be difficult for Reus to nail down a spot in the Madrid first team initially. But the German is a lot more refined in his craft and a player that would be extremely tough to dislodge once he gets his chance; whichever club gets him come the end of the campaign should consider themselves very lucky indeed.