Real Madrid Transfer News: Paul Pogba Bid Denied by Club, Top Blancos Rumours

Real Madrid have officially denied a report in Italian newspaper La Stampa suggesting the club have made a hefty bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

A statement was published on the club's official website, reading: "Real Madrid have had no contact either with Juventus or the player's agent and, as a consequence, the reports published in this newspaper are completely false."

AS provided details of the story:

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Madrid are one of a number of clubs currently linked with Pogba, reported by AS (h/t Charles Perrin of the Express). French publication L'Equipe (h/t talkSPORT) suggests the youngster "has set his heart on a move to Spain, with Barcelona and Real Madrid preparing to battle it out to secure his signature."

Barcelona cannot welcome new players to Camp Nou until the club's transfer ban expires in January 2016, meaning Madrid would have the advantage if Juve wish to sell the Frenchman during the summer.

Reports across the continent continue to suggest Napoli boss Rafa Benitez is destined to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager once Serie A draws to a close, detailed by John Cross of the Mirror. Cross believes Liverpool's Raheem Sterling will be one of Benitez's "first transfer targets" as he looks to stamp his mark on the squad.

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Cross also believes Los Blancos are "growing in confidence" with regard to signing Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, although the Red Devils stopper remains silent.

The 'keeper was recently approached by a Deportes Cuatro journalist, reported by Marca (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News). Luckhurst reported that De Gea said: "I won't talk," when asked about the possibility of a move.

Jack Wilson of the Daily Star believes De Gea has "no chance" of grabbing Iker Casillas' No. 1 shirt and claims that he could end up wearing No. 43 at the Bernabeu, his original number during his with time with Atletico Madrid. However, Spanish league rules state that first-team players must wear between No. 1 and No. 25, so this is unlikely.

Regardless of the number he takes if he moves to Real, it certainly wouldn't stop De Gea becoming the club's top goalkeeper.

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J. I. Garcia-Ochoa of Marca reports that left-back Fabio Coentrao and central midfielder Asier Illarramendi will remain with Los Blancos "unless Benitez does not want them."

Illarramendi is likely to fall further down the pecking order if Pogba arrives. Like Coentrao, he is struggling to be little more than a rotational player in the Spanish capital.

B/R UK's James McNicholas recently discussed where Pogba could land if he leaves Juve:

It's interesting to see the club respond to speculation surrounding the player. Optimists will perhaps note that there's no confirmation Madrid aren't planning to spend heavily on Pogba, who can be considered among the sport's best young talents.

Still, La Stampa's report has irked the club enough to get defensive and issue a formal rebuttal, which is perhaps an attempt to publicly deny the inevitable.