Real Madrid Transfer News: Sergio Aguero Blow, Latest Asier Illarramendi Rumours

Sergio Aguero has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Manchester City because he believes he can win the Champions League with the Premier League club.

Currently linked with a move to Real Madrid, per AS (h/t ESPN FC), the Argentinian has once again denied he is looking to depart the Etihad Stadium. His comments were reported by David Anderson of the Mirror:

"

The only reason a player should leave a club is to achieve things, and I can achieve all I want to at City. I can't stop rumours. I can't stop people writing things. But what I can do is repeat what I have already said, and that is that I'm very happy at Manchester City.

I have had success over the last four seasons there and I'm hungry for a lot more. Of course the Premier League is a big priority and we want to win it back, but it is a big dream to win the Champions League at City as well.

"

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Aguero finished as the top scorer of the 2014-15 Premier League season, racking up 26 goals as City concluded the campaign eight points behind champions Chelsea. He is often the club's leading light, someone who drags them out of trouble with his tremendous finishing skills.

The former Atletico Madrid man proved himself to be a world star during his previous stint in the Spanish capital. He plays with the ball close to his feet and is surprisingly difficult to knock off from possession because of his low centre of gravity. Aguero scores all types of goals but is most clinical when he finds a yard of space inside the opposition's box.

Madrid supporters currently enjoy the attacking prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, but after a relatively disappointing season on the trophy front under Carlo Ancelotti, new boss Rafa Benitez may be looking to make an immediate impression by signing a top-class player of his own. However, team president Florentino Perez may have the final say.

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"Perez feels that a player such as Aguero would inject a fresh dose of optimism into the Real Madrid fans," reported J.L. Guerrero of AS. The string-puller often looks to land popular players who have enjoyed a recent run of superb form—highlighted by the arrivals of James Rodriguez, Bale and Luka Modric in recent years—so Aguero's introduction would make perfect sense.

Benzema scored an underwhelming 15 league goals from his role as a central striker last season. That's not a terrible return, but more should be expected from him. Despite City's inconsistencies, Aguero remained a constant threat and often had his performances overlooked because of Chelsea's canter to the title, not to mention the media focus on breakout Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.

Benitez's first signings will highlight exactly the direction he's hoping to take the squad. It's speculated that central midfielder Asier Illarramendi will join Liverpool in a deal worth £15 million, per Metro (h/t the Telegraph). 

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The Spanish midfielder has struggled for game time since heading to the Bernabeu, making just 25 starts in La Liga in his two seasons at the club, recorded by WhoScored.com. He provides a calming influence in the centre and could help Reds boss Brendan Rodgers in his quest to replace outgoing captain Steven Gerrard.

At his best, Illarramendi functions like Sergio Busquets at Barcelona or Michael Carrick at Manchester United; he's someone whose subtle quality and distribution allow more obvious stars to shine. He can outline himself as a world-class player with more playing time, even if representing Madrid has seemed too big a task for him at times.

B/R UK's Jonathan Johnson recently discussed how Benitez could influence his squad this summer:

Aguero's continued dedication to City is commendable. He's not the type of player who can be easily replaced, as his goals and determined style of play often thrust City closer to success than they perhaps otherwise might be. Money talks, though, and if Madrid want him, they will have to pay a large fee.

Offloading Illarramendi is an inevitable part of the squad's transition now that Benitez is in charge, even if the player will probably appeal to the pragmatic manager.