Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest Marco Reus, Fernando Llorente Rumours
Real Madrid have moved ahead of Liverpool in the pursuit of Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus, according to beIN Sports (h/t Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo).
The Reds were keen to reinvest money accumulated from Raheem Sterling's sale—which starts at £44 million and could rise to £49 million—but it seems Los Blancos are the most likely club to sign the coveted German. Reus could fetch up to £46 million, according to Adam Skinner of the Express, who also cited beIN Sports.
Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports provided additional information on the potential deal:
However, Reus signed a four-year contract extension in February, a time in which it appeared the club were in for a Bundesliga relegation dog fight. He is committed to the BVB cause, and despite constant injuries, can easily lead Thomas Tuchel's side into the Champions League next season.
B/R UK's Stefan Bienkowski doesn't expect Reus to leave the Westfalenstadion this summer:
Reus netted seven and provided five assists in 20 Bundesliga appearances last term, as recorded by WhoScored.com. He managed this despite long-term injuries following on from missing Germany's World Cup triumph in the summer of 2014. If fit and firing, there are few forwards as incisive as the 26-year-old.
Madrid boss Rafa Benitez is likely to move Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale into central roles next season. He deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation during the recent International Champions Cup penalty loss to Roma, with Ronaldo acting as the spearhead and Bale on the right of a narrow supporting three. There is easily room for Reus on the left (a position Jese Rodriguez took up in the defeat).
Benitez has been linked with a move for Juventus centre-forward Fernando Llorente, a player who is waiting for the call, according to Tuttosport (h/t Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football). The powerful Spaniard has allegedly turned down approaches from "Monaco, Porto and several other English Premier League sides," according to Conn's article, as he continues to wait on a Madrid deal.
The 30-year-old tallied 49 La Liga goals for Athletic Bilbao between 2009-12, a prolific spell which also coincided with the Basque club getting to the Copa del Rey final twice and Europa League showpiece once. He is surplus to requirements at Juve—who have Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic to choose from next season—but could be effective in a rotational role for Benitez.
That said, he's unneeded if Karim Benzema is to remain with the club. Rob Draper of the MailOnline suggested Arsenal are interested in the player, but that the Gunners have "no expectation" Madrid will sell. Someone will certainly have to leave if Reus and Llorente are being pursued in Benitez's first summer as boss.
Madrid's options are vast, but Benitez will be hoping to add some pragmatism to a squad that struggled against the best last season. Reus would rank among the captures of the summer, while Llorente cannot be considered essential at the current time.
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