Real Madrid Transfer News: Major Neymar and Antoine Griezmann Rumours

Real Madrid are reportedly ready to meet Neymar's huge release clause in order to prise him away from Barcelona, but the Bernabeu club look set to miss out on signing Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann in the summer.

Per F.J. Diaz in AS, Atleti are looking to sign Griezmann onto a new deal which will include a €100 million (£76 million) release clause, while he has "given a gentleman's agreement not to consider offers from any other club, Real Madrid included, for two years."

The report indicates that Real president Florentino Perez has "hinted" at making a move for the Frenchman, but Atleti are clearly looking to pre-empt any approach by improving his current deal—which runs until 2020 and includes an €80 million (£60.8 million) release clause.

The attraction of Griezmann to Real is an obvious one. The 24-year-old is a remarkable attacking talent, prolific both as a goalscorer and a creator.

Furthermore, his goals often come at key moments, per Opta:

With rumours abounding that Cristiano Ronaldo may be on his way out this summer, Griezmann could be the ideal long-term replacement to play with Gareth Bale in the Real attack, per Matt Law in the Telegraph. 

As noted by Diaz, the presence of Zinedine Zidane as Real manager could also be an attractive prospect for Griezmann given his status as a France legend.

However, any chance of an imminent switch for Griezmann to Real now seems hugely unlikely as Atleti move to prevent it.

In similarly unlikely news, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Joe Short in the Express) reports that Los Blancos are preparing to trigger Neymar's £143 million release clause.

Zidane is reportedly eyeing his "first Galactico signing for this summer" and will look to beat Manchester United to the Brazilian.

David Ramos/Getty Images

While Real undoubtedly have the money to meet the reported clause, it is highly unlikely that they would ever be able to tempt Neymar to join them.

Not only would arch-rivals Barca do everything in their power to prevent such a move, but the 23-year-old himself surely has little urge to leave the Camp Nou.

He was a treble winner with the Blaugrana last season—and could be again in 2015-16—and makes up part of the world's best attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Roberto Carlos—a Real legend and Neymar's compatriot—has reportedly suggested that he could persuade his "close friend" to join Los Blancos when he takes up a role at the Bernabeu, although even he was seemingly joking, per Football Espana.

Neymar looks an unattainable target for Real, and a player like Chelsea's Eden Hazard would surely be a better forward for Los Blancos to pursue in the summer, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones and Sam Tighe:

Real remain one of the most attractive clubs in football, but going after their two main rivals' star players is an overly bold transfer strategy.