Real Madrid Transfer News: David Alaba Bid Increased, Raphael Varane Rumours

Real Madrid have reportedly upped their bid for Bayern Munich's David Alaba from €50 million (£41.4 million) to €65 million (£53.8 million), while the German side's new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, wants Los Blancos defender Raphael Varane.

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Goal), defender Alaba is "a priority acquisition" for Real this summer, but Bayern are loath to let him go and have placed an €80 million (£66.2 million) price tag on him.

Also per AS (via MailOnline's Amitai Winehouse), Ancelotti is "looking to reshape his Bayern team" ahead of his first season in charge and is keen to add Varane, 23, having been a fan of the player during his Real tenure.

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Centre-back Varane is still not a guaranteed starter at the Santiago Bernabeu and may be tempted by the opportunity to work again with Ancelotti.

Los Blancos will be persistent in their pursuit of Alaba, and while there is no need for Bayern to sell the 24-year-old, Varane could be used as a bargaining chip.

Real could really do with a player of Alaba's quality and versatility. He would add strength at centre-back—especially if Varane goes the other way—and is equally adept at left-back, an area where Real are lacking, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

The Austria international can also operate in a defensive-midfield role, where Real manager Zinedine Zidane would reportedly be eager to play him, given that Casemiro is currently the Frenchman's only option, per Winehouse.

Furthermore, Alaba even has the ability to haul free-kick duties from Cristiano Ronaldo, per FC Bayern English:

The former Austria Vienna man boasts staggering consistency—especially for such a young player—having been included in UEFA's Team of the Year for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

It is little wonder that Bayern have placed such a high price on him, and Real will likely have to up their bid further past €65 million (£53.7 million) if they are to have a chance of signing Alaba—whose current deal at the Allianz Arena runs until 2021—or include Varane to sweeten the pot.

Meanwhile, Real are reportedly "desperate" to move on both James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata this summer, but they will only sell them for a combined £125 million.

According to Sport (via Sam Morgan in the Sun), both Zidane and club president Florentino Perez are happy to see the pair go, but they have valued Morata at £62 million and James at £63 million.

Even with the report indicating the Spanish striker is a target for Chelsea and other Premier League clubs while James has been eyed by both Manchester clubs and Paris Saint-Germain, Real will likely have to lower their asking prices if they are to move the pair on.