Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet Rumours

Reports that Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has terminated the lease on his Turin home have fuelled speculation about a possible move to Real Madrid, although the Italian club’s director, Giuseppe Marotta, has encouraged the Frenchman to stay in Italy. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Pogba has reportedly opted not to renew his rent contract at his abode. It’s suggested in the piece that while some are using this information to add extra credence to rumours about a possible move to Los Blancos, the 23-year-old did the same last summer and stayed at the club.

That’s something Marotta hopes will happen again. As reported by Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby, the Juve executive thinks Pogba would benefit from more time at Juventus:

If the midfielder does stick around in Turin, it’ll be his fifth season at the club. The first four have been memorable, with Juventus winning the domestic title on every occasion, and gradually, Pogba has developed from a capricious footballer into one of the most feared midfielders in the game.

Last season, he grew into the club’s iconic No. 10 jersey, and as we can see here, he produced plenty of moments for supporters to savour:

Speculation has always followed Pogba, and talk about a possible move to Real Madrid has escalated lately, especially after the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, told Jose Felix Diaz of Marca (translated by Stephen McGovern) there have been talks with Los Blancos about a possible transfer.

As noted by WhoScored.com, as well as being a player who can control games and bully opponents, Pogba poses a huge threat in the final third; he'll be joined by Miralem Pjanic next season, too—the most creative player in Serie A:

Juventus will want to keep him on board. Domestic dominance is one thing, but manager Massimiliano Allegri seems to be building a team that is capable of challenging for the UEFA Champions League, too. Keeping Pogba at the fulcrum of the side will be key to them doing so.

There’s some truth in what Marotta says, as the France international has plenty to learn about the game. That process would be much more forgiving at Juventus in familiar surroundings compared to Madrid, where every move he makes would be analysed in huge detail.

Real Madrid Lining Up Dimitri Payet

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According to Marco Conterio of Tuttomercatoweb.com, Real Madrid have been in initial negotiations with West Ham United about a possible move for Dimitri Payet.

It’s suggested “agents from both sides” have held talks about a transfer after the Frenchman’s brilliant performances at the UEFA European Championship. Payet also excelled with the Hammers in his debut season in the Premier League.

Los Blancos have made a habit of signing players on the back of strong showings at major tournaments, including the likes of Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Mesut Ozil and James Rodriguez. So it’d be no surprise to see the capital club take a keen interest in West Ham’s talisman, who has added the stardust to France’s displays so far.

As these numbers from OptaPaolo show, as well as two brilliant goals, Payet has been a huge creative presence in the final third:

There would be positives to Madrid pursuing this deal. They’d be getting a player who's capable of producing spectacular moments, is in the best form of his career and, after working under Marcelo Bielsa and Slaven Bilic in the last two seasons, has matured significantly. Payet has found a consistency to match his class.

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West Ham are not in a position where they have to sell, though. Payet signed a new deal in February that has five years still left to run, and given the Hammers are to move into the Olympic Stadium next season, they will want to do so with their key player intact. As such, it’d take a massive amount of money for Madrid to prise the 29-year-old away.