Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Marco Verratti, Karim Benzema Rumours

Marco Verratti has insisted he's happy at Paris Saint-Germain despite links to Real Madrid earlier this summer. If the midfield maestro does move, he'd reportedly favour a return to Italy in the future.

Verratti made his feelings clear, per French publication L'Equipe (h/t ESPN FC): "I'm fine in Paris, I am well set and I intend to stay there as long as possible. If one day I decide to leave PSG, I do not hide that I would go back to Italy, but for now I think not."

Back in July, Ivan Cardia of TuttoMercatoWeb cited unnamed reports from Spain indicating Los Blancos were considering schemer Verratti as a replacement for German playmaker Toni Kroos.

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Verratti swatted aside the mooted interest from Real Madrid, according to French source Le Parisien (h/t Liam Corless of the Daily Mirror): "I'm flattered that a great team like Real Madrid are interested in me, but I've made ​​the decision of winning with Paris."

However, his latest statement of content about life at PSG contradicts the view of Italy head coach Giampiero Ventura. He recently suggested the midfielder is less than enamoured with the state of things in the French capital, per James Goldman for Metro.co.uk: "Verratti is not happy in PSG because he is playing in the wrong position."

Verratti would be an asset for any top club on the continent. He's a classy technician with the touch, vision and creative temperament to boss the biggest matches.

Yet Los Merengues are one of the few squads who are amply stocked with midfielders comparable to Verratti. Kroos is also a maestro able to dictate matters in every portion of the pitch.

The same is true of Luka Modric, the Croatian pass-master who makes Real tick. This cultured pair is supplemented by the brawn and destructive tendencies of Brazilian Casemiro.

It's a midfield trio that offers perfect balance, and it's a big reason why Los Blancos won the UEFA Champions League last season. Verratti's a marquee talent, but his perceived snub shouldn't bother Real too much.

Liverpool Tried to Sign Karim Benzema

Real still rely on Karim Benzema to be their first-choice centre-forward. The prolific Frenchman has remained at the Santiago Bernabeu despite many suitors showing interest over the years.

Premier League side Liverpool were reportedly one such suitor in 2014. At the time, the Reds were engaged in a frantic scramble to replace Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan had left Merseyside for Real's bitterest rivals, Barcelona, according to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.

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He provided details about Benzema and the other strikers on Liverpool's shopping list that summer: "Suddenly, they were making enquiries about the availability of stellar names such as Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema."

Benzema is often the subject of rumours he's about to leave Real. Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (h/t Matt Heath-Smith of the Sun) recently linked the No. 9 with a move to PSG to replace Cavani.

Benzema is staying for now and finds himself in a competition with Alvaro Morata for playing time through the middle this season. It's one the 28-year-old should win after scoring 24 goals in LaLiga last season, per WhoScored.com.

Real's squad is well-stocked in both midfield and attack. Verratti isn't a need in the middle, while Benzema should continue to thrive leading the line.