Real Madrid Transfer News: Top Targets Revealed in Latest Los Blancos Rumours

Agreeing a new deal for Sergio Ramos should be a top target for Real Madrid during the summer transfer window. However, the bullish centre-back may have taken a step closer to leaving the club after rejecting a contract offer from Los Blancos.

Ramos' decision puts him firmly on the radar of Premier League giants Manchester United, according to Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw):

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Ramos is widely considered as one of the world’s best centre-backs and he wants to be rewarded as such, according to Fichajes.net.

Louis van Gaal is ready to swoop for the Spanish international should the parties decide to call off negotiations.

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United's interest in Ramos makes perfect sense. The Red Devils needs a quick, commanding and aggressive centre-back to shore things up at the back.

But the idea Los Merengues will fail to agree a new deal with the decorated Spain international seems more than a little fanciful. Still only 29, Ramos possesses all the qualities new manager Rafael Benitez will want at the heart of his defence.

Ramos is a powerhouse, both on the ground and in the air. He's also a player with an intense desire to win, one who will consistently put his body on the line.

Ramos even moved into midfield during the latter stages of the season to try and solve Los Blancos' need for a physical and defensive-minded holding player. Though the switch hardly proved a roaring success, it did at least show Ramos' willingness to do whatever it takes to help Madrid win.

So it's no surprise that it isn't just money that's currently making Ramos doubt his future in the Spanish capital. At least that's according to the player's father, per Spanish publication Marca (h/t Daily Express reporter Bruce Archer).

Among the list of his son's annoyances, Ramos' father lists the Madrid crowd's negative treatment of longtime goalkeeper Iker Casillas. He is also said to be far from impressed with the decision to sack Carlo Ancelotti.

Abdeljalil Bounhar/Associated Press

Waving goodbye to the Italian was a mistake by Florentino Perez despite this club's failure to finish with more than the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Yet it won't be enough to see Ramos follow suit.

Despite his audible discontent, expect the player and his club to eventually reach an agreement. Ramos is just too valuable to let go.

Madrid Shift Attention to Geoffrey Kondogbia

It should come as no surprise that a powerhouse destroyer such as Geoffrey Kondogbia has landed on Madrid's radar following the arrival of Benitez. The former Valencia, Liverpool and Chelsea gaffer has always had a fondness for tough-tackling enforcers who can boss the middle.

AS Monaco linchpin Kondogbia is exactly that. The 22-year-old emerged as a top-level star last season and is now a prime target for the 10-time European Cup winners, according to AS writer Manu Sainz.

Maurizio Degli Innocenti/Associated Press

Sainz notes how Madrid have been put off other possible midfield reinforcements:

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The number one candidate for the midfield position was Marco Verratti, but the Italian has now been discarded to avoid a potential conflict with Paris-Saint Germain, who may in turn seek a reprisal by tapping up Cristiano Ronaldo.

With Verratti ruled out, the two other candidates in the running are Arturo Vidal and Geoffrey Kondogbia. The Juventus midfielder has long been on Madrid’s wish list but his difficult personality off the pitch has always gone against him whenever Madrid have tried to lure him to the Bernabeu in the past.

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That's quite a claim from Sainz, yet he does also rightly point out how Kondogbia boasts the brawn and athleticism to complement the technique and creativity exuded by stylish playmakers Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

A lack of credible balance in midfield was a major problem for Los Merengues during Ancelotti's final campaign in charge. He was rarely able to underpin his many creative talents with the necessary solidity.

The sale of Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich last summer certainly didn't help. But it's also true that Ancelotti didn't trust Asier Illarramendi and the oft-injured Sami Khedira. Winter arrival Lucas Silva also flopped.

Madrid know all about Kondogbia. He was a budding star for Sevilla during the 2012/13 season.

Toward the end of that campaign, the towering stalwart waxed lyrical about the possibility of joining Los Blancos, during an interview with French television (h/t Sky Sports' Lucas Brown): "Real Madrid has been my dream since I was a small boy."

If Madrid want to make that dream come true, Benitez and company will have to act fast. A report from Sky Italia (h/t talkSPORT) states that AC Milan are stepping up their interest and have even "opened talks" with the player.

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Securing a natural defensive midfielder will surely be one of this summer's priorities for Benitez. Kondogbia fits the mold, so expect the new manager to push Perez to make a deal happen.

You should also expect the club's president to intervene to secure Ramos' future before the defender's discontent goes too far. Ensuring his stay in the Spanish capital also has to be a priority for Benitez and company.