Real Madrid Transfer News: Top Rumours, Latest Players Targeted by Los Blancos

Toni Kroos' hefty £240,000 per week wage demands could reportedly scupper any transfer from Real Madrid to Manchester City. New Citizens boss Pep Guardiola is said to be wary about meeting the German playmaker's demands, according to Daniel Cutts of the Sun.

Cutts indicated that while both player and manager are keen on Kroos moving to the Premier League, the World Cup winner's anticipated wages remain a sticking point:

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But Etihad chiefs are reluctant to make their move as Kroos is on £240,000-a-week at Madrid – double what they thought he earned.

A City source said: 'It was a shock to discover that Kroos is one of the biggest earners at Madrid.

That was one of the reasons why he quit Bayern. It was thought it would be closer to £120,000 a week – so double their estimate.'

Guardiola would need to shift a high earner like Toure, who is on around £230,000 a- week to land Kroos.

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The idea of moving Yaya Toure on makes sense, since Kroos is viewed as an ideal replacement for the Ivory Coast powerhouse. The German's style of play may be more technical than Toure's, but Kroos also offers the same fearsome shooting power from outside the box.

Still, though, his man asset at City would be his ability to maintain possession via quick and smart passing. Few midfielders are as efficient on the ball as the 26-year-old Real Madrid man.

He amply displayed that talent for Germany during the group stages at this summer's UEFA Euro 2016, per the tournament's official site:

It's a quality Los Blancos found particularly useful last season, where Kroos formed a superb partnership with Luka Modric in the middle. Their control of passing was key in Real's UEFA Champions League win.

Real Linked with Shock Swoop for Moussa Sissoko

In one of the more surprising rumours of this summer's window, Real are reportedly keen on Newcastle United's French attacking midfielder, Moussa Sissoko.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Spanish publication Sport has reported how Los Blancos president Florentino Perez wants Sissoko in response to losing out to Barcelona for Valencia pass-master Andre Gomes: "Real Madrid, who had been prepared to pay between 30 and 40 million euros for the Portuguese international, would be looking to pay a slightly inferior amount for Sissoko, but with the inclusion of bonuses to Newcastle, and the offer of a player on loan to Rafa Benitez's side."

Of course, Sissoko is different in style to a playmaker like Gomes. The robust Frenchman's game is based more on power and pace. At his best, Sissoko can drive past defenders and attack from either the flanks or through the middle.

The Sport report also indicated Real manager Zinedine Zidane was left "impressed" by Sissoko's performances for France at Euro 2016. However, as the Sun's Richard Forrester noted, Los Merengues might be unwilling to meet Newcastle's £35 million asking price.

Given Sissoko's wild inconsistency at club level, that unwillingness is understandable. He's a terrific talent on his day, but Sissoko's form is perhaps too erratic for what would be the biggest step up of his career so far.