Real Madrid Transfer News: Chelsea Target Dani Carvajal, Top Rumours

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appears ready to plunder former club Real Madrid as he looks to capture right-back Dani Carvajal.

Website TuttoMercatoWeb.com (h/t Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star) says the Los Blancos defender is being considered as a replacement for the faltering Branislav Ivanovic, who has started the campaign poorly, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Carvajal agreed a contract extension with the Madrid superclub over the summer, keeping him in the Spanish capital until 2020, per Turrell. However, with the revolving transfer door ever spinning at the Bernabeu, Chelsea will be enthused by Real's capture of Brazil international right-back Danilo. 

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The Galacticos paid £22.6 million and gave the Porto star a huge six-year contract, according to Jack Bezants of the Mail Online, suggesting president Florentino Perez sees the full-back as a star for the present and future.

Spain international Carvajal has left Madrid once before—signing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. However, Real added a buy-back clause in the player's transfer deal, and activated it 12 months later after the full-back proved himself to be one of the best players in his position in the Bundesliga. 

Carvajal only managed two appearances in La Liga for Los Blancos last term, per WhoScored.com, and might see himself out in the cold after Danilo's arrival. 

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However, the Spaniard has welcomed the competition, and even encouraged the Brazilian's purchase two months before he completed the move, per Four Four Two:

"

The signing of Danilo is good. We are at the best club in the world and competition is always good. It's normal that we compete with the best in the world. Right now Danilo is not here. I will be with him next year and I will compete with him and we will try to play as much as possible. A few days ago I read an article that saying I want to go. Far from it. This is my home and I am going to give it all for this badge.

"

Unless Carvajal has a change of heart, it seems his future still remains with Perez's Galacticos. The defender has been involved with Real since 2010, and brings an important level of consistency and knowledge with his play.

Balague Speculates About Ronaldo's Future

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Bleacher Report's La Liga pundit Guillem Balague has spoken about Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Real Madrid, and suggested the player could be on the move next summer. 

In the journalist's column for AS (h/t Soccerlens.com), Balague spoke about the long-term work that goes into the transfers of the world's greatest talents, including that of Ronaldo possibly moving to another club.

It is no secret that CR7 still holds Manchester United in very high regard, with Balague saying on a Sky Sports question and answer blog: "As I have said for months, everything is ready for him to go back [to United]. All the finances are in place if he decides to join them."

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However, Balague warned the superstar will have options if he looks toward the Madrid exit, per Sky Sports:

"

He does dream of going back [to United] but I am pretty sure that if given the choice of PSG, another top European club or United, he might realise going back is not the greatest of ideas. He will have to fight with his own shadow. I feel before next summer Ronaldo will have to think about his future carefully.

"

Ronaldo is on the cusp of history at Los Blancos, with Raul's all-time goalscoring record all but his own. Opta highlighted the Portugal captain's amazing record since leaving England for Spain:

There is a feeling that the player's best days are behind him, with his presence inhibiting the development of Gareth Bale—clearly purchased from Tottenham Hotspur as Ronaldo's long-term heir.

Coach Rafael Benitez was expected to use the player through the middle of the attack this year, but CR7 has taken his preferred position on the left—and the goals have kept flowing.

A world-record offer would surely tempt Perez to cash in as he looks to his younger stars to carry the club. However, Ronaldo is still a potent entity, and for a player who scores 50 goals a year with his eyes closed, it would appear foolish to let him go while he regularly dominates every team in La Liga.