Real Madrid Transfer News: Dani Carvajal Eyed, Latest James Rodriguez Rumours

Manchester City will reportedly launch a bid to land Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal, who is said to be valued at £45 million by the La Liga side. 

That’s according to Chris Hatherall of the Sunday Mirror, who stated City have already enquired about the possibility of landing the Spain international, with next manager Pep Guardiola said to be keen on the 24-year-old. 

In a team of genuine superstars, Carvajal’s role can go unnoticed in this Real side. But as we can see in this clip, he’s a superb footballer:

He’s a player that Real Madrid miss greatly when not in the XI. At times this season Danilo has replaced Carvajal in the first team, and the balance, both going forward and defensively, on the right flank just hasn’t quite been there.

Carvajal brings assurance to the side. He’s an intelligent player defensively, able to close down opposing wingers, get tackles in and intercept passes. In the final third he’s effective, too, getting dangerous crosses into the box that men such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo can attack.

With all these attributes put together, Real arguably have the best right-back in world football. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe is a big fan:

It’s easy to see why Guardiola would be a fan, too. Full-backs have always played a crucial role in his tactical plans, offering width in advanced areas and energy to get back into position when the team does lose the ball. Carvajal ticks all those boxes and given City’s current options at right-back—Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna—are both ageing, it’d be no surprise if there was interest.

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Real manager Zinedine Zidane will be well aware of just how important Carvajal is to the cause, though. Even with £45 million from a sale, Los Blancos would find it tough to get another player who does the job with as much distinction as the role’s current incumbent.

James Rodriguez Offered to Manchester United

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According to Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star Sunday, Real Madrid have offered James Rodriguez to Manchester United for £60 million.

Hetherington noted the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is the driving force behind the potential move, with Rodriguez’s time in the Spanish capital looking as though it’s drawing to an inevitable end. It's suggested that as well as the Red Devils, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Juventus also hold an interest.

Here’s a look at the report on the back page of the newspaper, per 101 Great Goals:

It’s been a campaign to forget for Rodriguez, who, due to injuries, poor form and a lack of application, has fallen well down the pecking order under Zidane. Here is a look at how his excellent debut season compares to the one just finished:

	2014-15	2015-16
Apps (Sub)	29	17 (9)
Goals	13	7
Assists	13	8
Shots per game	1.8	1.5
Key passes per game	2.7	2.3
Dribbles per game	1	0.7
Passing accuracy	87.2 %	86.9 %

Undoubtedly, there’s a brilliant player in there when it comes to the Colombia international; Madridistas were witness to that his first term. However, the manner in which Zidane wants Real to play doesn’t marry up with the qualities of Rodriguez, and if the club can recoup £60 million, there’d be temptation to cash in.

The player himself might benefit from a change of scenery. Rodriguez is a player who is worth building a team around and somewhere that he is the key component in a side could bring out the best in the 24-year-old.