Real Madrid Transfer News: Dimitri Payet, Jose Gimenez and Top Rumours

Real Madrid will reportedly have to shell out £40 million if they want to sign West Ham United's Dimitri Payet in the summer. 

According to Harry Pratt in the Daily Star, Real are among a number of top European clubs—along with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona—to have shown interest in Payet, with Pratt saying West Ham "will slap a £40 million price tag" on the Frenchman in order to ward off the big guns.

Payet has been one of the Premier League's star players this season, his nine goals and eight assists propelling West Ham to within touching distance of the top four, per WhoScored.com.

While Barca dropped points again on Saturday, Real still look set to fall short in the Primera Division title race this season. Bleacher Report's Dean Jones recently predicted a third-place finish for Los Blancos:

As a result, they need to add reinforcements in the summer if they are to close the gap next term.

The 29-year-old Payet's impeccable link-up play and goalscoring ability—as well as his brilliant set pieces—could make him a huge asset at Real alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

But £40 million is a lot of money to pay for a player who is almost 30 years old, and Payet's price tag may, as intended, prove prohibitive for Real.

The Primera Division giants are, however, reportedly prepared to spend big in order to land the 21-year-old Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Atleti have no interest in doing business with Real over the Uruguayan, but Los Blancos are prepared to meet his €60 million (£48.1 million) release clause in order to force a transfer.

The report added that Real are "determined" to sign the young defender because club president Florentino Perez has lost faith in ageing centre-back duo Pepe and Sergio Ramos, while Raphael Varane's fitness issues remain a concern.

Real's defensive performance in their 2-0 defeat to Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday exposed some glaring weaknesses in their back line, per Squawka:

Alongside Diego Godin, Gimenez makes up arguably the best central-defensive partnership in the world—Atleti have conceded just 16 goals in La Liga this season—and his addition at Real would improve manager Zinedine Zidane's side dramatically.

But Atletico are likely to fight tooth and nail in order to keep him at the Vicente Calderon.

Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images

Elsewhere, incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly eager to keep hold of Real Madrid target Thibaut Courtois, and the Blues have put a £73 million price tag on the Belgian goalkeeper, per Simon Johnson in the Evening Standard.

The report indicated that Courtois, 23, has previously expressed a desire to return to Spain one day, having spent three seasons on loan at Atleti, and Chelsea are prepared to sell if they receive an offer that meets their asking price.

Given Real already have a top-quality 'keeper in Keylor Navas, though, they are unlikely to shell out over £70 million for Courtois, who has shown inconsistent form and fitness this season.

And with Conte clearly wanting to keep hold of him, Courtois looks set to remain at Chelsea, at least for now.