Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Rodrigo Bentancur, Moussa Dembele Rumours

Real Madrid will reportedly miss the chance to sign Boca Juniors midfield prospect Rodrigo Bentancur, after Juventus confirmed their intention to acquire the Uruguayan teenager.

Juve CEO Giuseppe Marotta stated his club has the first option to sign Bentancur as part of the deal that sent striker Carlos Tevez back to Boca, per Goal's Gareth Morgan: "We have an option on him from the Tevez deal with Boca Juniors; an option that we will exercise next season."

A subsequent report from Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Football-Italia.net) has suggested the deal to send Bentancur to Turin is already progressing rapidly: "Now, Gazzetta Dello Sport claim that a fee of €9.4m has been agreed, although the Bianconeri will allow Bentancur to remain in South America until next summer rather than recruit him in January."

Ivan Fernandez/Associated Press

If things do move this quickly, it will end Los Blancos' hopes of adding a dynamic young talent to their midfield ranks. There were heavy links between the club from Spain's capital and Bentancur in January.

Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror reported Los Merengues were ready to seal a £10 million deal for the player ahead of Juventus. Real's current FIFA-imposed transfer ban would naturally scupper any deal now.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will give current youth players covered by the ban the right to play while any appeal is pending, according to a statement from the club's official site (h/t ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan).

It may sting somewhat to miss out on Bentancur, a player who has enjoyed a rapid rise at Boca. Yet, it's not as if Los Blancos are short of quality in midfield areas.

Their starting trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos is arguably the most balanced in Europe. Manager Zinedine Zidane can also call on some intriguing young talents, including 20-year-old Marco Asensio.

Real shouldn't smart too much about having to let Juve land their target unopposed.

Celtic Star Moussa Dembele Scouted

The 11-time European Cup winners may have to let Bentancur go, but that doesn't mean Real aren't on the case of other promising young talents. The club has reportedly sent scouts to run the rule over Celtic's French striking ace Moussa Dembele.

Get French Football News (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Sun) detailed how both Real and bitter rivals Barca had scouts watching Dembele in the recent Old Firm derby against Glasgow Rangers.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

It was a game the Hoops won emphatically, 5-1, with 20-year-old Dembele bagging a hat-trick. The former Fulham prospect showed off his impressive combination of strength, pace and perceptive movement to torment the Rangers defence.

Those attributes have made Dembele very highly regarded even at such a young age. He's already caught the attention of Real manager Zidane.

Eduardo Munoz/Associated Press

Back In July, the Frenchman lauded Dembele's potential to become Celtic's own Galactico-style star in an interview with Scottish newspaper the Daily Record (h/t Gordon Parks of the Daily Mirror): “Dembele is an exciting player potentially for France. He has already shown what he is capable of."

Zidane has admitted to being enthralled by Dembele's talent, but has also called on him to prove it in Europe, per John Shields of the Scottish Sun.

There's no denying Dembele's potential. Still, the jump to Madrid would be a mighty one for the youngster. He has ability, but Real already have Alvaro Morata pushing for playing time as a centre-forward. With Karim Benzema also in the mix, it's not clear exactly where Dembele would fit in.

Major success in Scotland is likely to keep Zidane's interest piqued.