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Miguel Layun
Miguel Layun in a Mexico national team match - Rich Lam/Getty Images

Real Madrid are looking for a left-back to reinforce their defence next summer, and according to the latest reports they have targeted Watford’s Miguel Layun, who is currently on loan at Porto.

Florentino Perez has been seeking for a man who can give Marcelo some rest since Fabio Coentrao left the Santiago Bernabeu. Players like Ricardo Rodriguez, David Alaba and Jetro Willems have been linked with Los Blancos, but none of them seem willing to arrive at a club where they will barely get any minutes of play.

Thus, Perez will have to settle with a low-profile left-back who can replace Marcelo decently when required. And the Mexican could be a great fit.

Porto have a clause in the loan contract that allows them to buy Layun at the end of the season, but should Real offer a higher amount, the player would end up at the Spanish capital.

The 27-year-old is having a superb season at the Portuguese side, having scored four goals and provided 18 assists. According to the latest Real Madrid transfer news, the main candidates to reinforce Los Merengues left-back at the moment are Layun and Bayer Leverkusen’s Wendell.

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Real Madrid take on La Liga leaders Barcelona hoping to please their fans with a victory against their arch-rivals.

The hosts are 1/2 favourites to beat Zinedine Zidane men and increase their lead in the table to 15 points. Los Blancos are 9/2 to win tonight, a really good price considering they will be very motivated and eager to upset Barca.

Betfair.com has the draw at 3/1, which isn’t a bad price for a match that could be levelled, as Real arrive in a good state of form and Barcelona will have their stars tired from the long international friendlies trips this week.

Leo Messi and Luis Suarez are favourites to score as books have them at 8/11 to get his name on the scoresheet. Betfair has both at 7/2 to opening the score, while Neymar is at 9/2 and Cristiano Ronaldo is at 11/2.

You will be able to find the best odds at Betfair.com.

Click in the following banner to get 20 euros/pounds in free bets:

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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is a doubt for Saturday’s clash against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

The World Cup and European Championship winner was withdrawn at half time in Spain’s draw with Italy last week and sat out the stalemate with Romania altogether with a back problem.

With many of the internationals now back in Madrid, the club gave an update on training ahead of the game against the La Liga champions, revealing Ramos participated in some group work but completed his session in the gym as he faces a race against time to be fit.

– Read more Real Madrid news

The statement on the official website read: “The team completed the second training session of the week at the Real Madrid City. They continue to prepare for the match against Barcelona on Saturday. Sergio Ramos completed the first part of the session with the group before continuing to work indoors.”

Having travelled and played in matches across the globe for their countries, players such as Luka Modric, Isco, Mateo Kovacic and Nacho Fernandez were given a rest day on Monday.

In good news, attacking duo Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema should be 100% ready to take on the Catalan outfit having not been selected by Wales or France respectively, allowing them to remain in Madrid and focus on their fitness.

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Real Madrid winger James Rodriguez has thanked his Colombia team mates for their support, saying he plays better when those surrounding him are behind him rather.

The 24-year-old starred in his national side’s win over Ecuador on Tuesday evening and grabbed an assist for Carlos Bacca.

His performances for Colombia have been in contrast to those for Real Madrid this year. His dip in form at club level has lead to some Madridistas and certain sections of the media to blame him and Isco for the team’s struggles overall. There has also been talk in recent weeks that the 10-time Champions League winners will consider selling James at the end of the campaign.

– Read more Real Madrid news

Earlier this week, ex-Colombia international Faustino Asprilla said James just needs to feel more loved at his club and he will perform better.

And speaking to the media after the Ecuador game, James hinted at the same.

“It is because I’m playing, this happens when you play and have everybody’s support. I am happy, happy. Now we have to continue in this fashion, they were good and I think we played a great game. I wanted to score a goal, but the goalkeeper played well. The best thing is that we took three points,” he told Caracol Television.

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Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik has denied he has spoken to Real Madrid about a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

The Slovakian player was strongly linked with a move to Real last summer when Rafa Benitez took charge but the move never materialised.

After suffering a dip in form earlier this season, Hamsik is now back to his best for his club as the Seria A side look to win the title. They are just three points behind Juventus with eight games remaining.

Reports in the media suggest Real boss Zinedine Zidane could go in for the midfielder at the end of his campaign as he looks to build his own squad in the Spanish capital that is capable of wrestling back the balance of power in Spain from Barcelona.

And it has been suggested that the Frenchman has already held talks with 28-year-old Hamsik.

Speaking to Repubblica, Hamsik denied any conversations have taken place and he is focused on winning the league with Napoli.

He stated: “He’s not called me – not many people know my number. Joking aside, it’s just the usual rumours and there’s nothing true about them. I’m contracted to Napoli and I’m not thinking about leaving. I’m happy with the way things are going here.”

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Ex-Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas says his old club have had a poor season by their standards but are in with chance of winning the Champions League.

Los Blancos visit fierce rivals Barcelona at the weekend but sit 10 points adrift of the Catalans. Having been thrown out of the Copa del Rey, Zinedine Zidane’s men have just the Champions League left to play for.

The will be confident of making the semi-finals without too much trouble having been drawn against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals – the first time the Bundesliga outfit have made it to this stage of the competition.

Speaking to El Larguero, Casillas, who left the club for Porto last summer, said Real have had a tough time this year.

“How do I see them? It looks like…a very hard stage. Their rivals are going well in all competitions and Madrid is the worst in the League. There are options in the Champions League. I hope they go through to the semi-final. It could be a very nice semi-final,” he stated.

As he approaches the end of his career, the veteran shot stopper was asked about the pressure of playing for Real and Spain. And he responded that in both cases it is demanded that players win every game – an impossible task.

“You have to have something special to be goalkeeper for Madrid or the national team. They ask that you win trophies. If you don’t, then each player’s performance is analysed. It’s the same with Spain. We have to win trophies and now, to not to it is a problem,” he stated.

And he added: “Before, drawing with Italy was very good. Now it’s a disaster. There are people accustomed to what we have done, but that’s not real. It’s very difficult to repeat.”

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Real Madrid have made the signing of Dele Alli a priority for next summer, according to Spanish sports newspaper AS.

Early this month, Spanish press revealed Los Blancos were eyeing the 19-year-old pearl, who has made a big impression in the Premier League this season.

Alli’s recent performances seem to have convinced Los Merengues, who are ready to launch a bid for the English midfielder, AS has reported.

The 19-year-old made his debut with the Spurs last August, and since them has become one of the leaders of the team, scoring seven goals in 42 appearances. Thanks to his good performances, Tottenham sit second in the table and have a realistic chance of winning their first league title for 55 years.

– More Real Madrid news

Spurs are not going to let Alli go easily, since he is one of the most promising young English players. Florentino Perez will have to make a big offer if he really wants to see the midfielder at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Alli could be the third world-class star that moves from Tottenham to Real Madrid, following Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.

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Javier Tebas
Javier Tebas speaks during the Financial Integrity and Transparency In Sport Forum - Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images For ICSS

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes Real Madrid can spring a surprise and beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos go into the game 10 points adrift of their fierce rivals in the table with Los Cules looking all but guaranteed to win the title once again.

And having thrashed Real 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this season, a game in which the fans started to turn against previous boss Rafa Benitez, the Catalan outfit go into the game a favourites.

But speaking to Onda Cero, Tebas, who has admitted he is a boyhood Los Blancos fan, said he thinks Zinedine Zidane’s men can return to the Spanish capital with all three points.

He commented: “In the first leg I backed Barca more. For this game I think Madrid is going to cause a surprise. Although it must be recognised that the level of Barca’s play is stratospheric.”

He went on to once again deny claims his position as president of La Liga and his support of the 10-time Champions League winners is a conflict of interests.

“You can’t be hypocritical. When I meet with my friends they remind me that I’ve supported Madrid since I was eight. My children also know this and I don’t like to lie. But people have to be clear that my colours don’t influence my decisions,” he stated.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Bundesliga top scorers Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have rejected offers from Real Madrid to move to the Spanish capital at the end of the season.

German newspaper Bild has revealed the Poland international has agreed a contract extension with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski was Florentino Perez’s first choice to reinforce the Los Blancos attack. However, the fact that Carlo Ancelotti will be Bayern’s manager next season has been key for the striker to reject Real’s offer.

Lewandowski, whose contract was expiring in 2019, will extend it until 2021. He will reportedly receive a salary increase, which has not been revealed.

Meanwhile, another Los Blancos target, Aubameyang, has revealed he will not be signing for Los Blancos this summer, despite playing at the Santiago Bernabeu is his childhood dream.

“Dortmund is a city that is mad about football. In the past few years we’ve had the highest attendance rates in Europe. The city is safe and my family feels like home. I’ve never hidden that I would love to play for Real Madrid someday, but I’ve extended my contract with Dortmund until 2020 for a reason. I feel comfortable here,” the striker said in a recent interview.

With these two options gone, Real Madrid will have to keep searching for a striker.

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Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen says the Clasico fixture is the biggest game in the world.

The Belgium international, who signed from the club two years ago, is preparing for this weekend’s fixture against fierce rivals Real as Los Cules look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

The former Arsenal man is experienced at the top level having played in many north London derbies for the Gunners against Spurs.

But speaking to the Barcelona website, he said only the Super Bowl could come close to the Clasico in terms of worldwide audience.

“Tottenham against Arsenal is a massive rivalry because they’re both in North London but, I heard that the Barcelona against Real Madrid in El Clásico is the most viewed or most watched single sport event in the world, close to the Super Bowl, so there are a lot of people who watch this game, so it is bigger. You can compare other derbies but this is bigger,” the defender said.

With Barcelona 10 points clear of Los Blancos and looking to extend that to 13 points at the weekend, Vermaelen admitted his side were in a good position in La Liga as well as the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

“You have to take it day by day and game by game and see how far we are ahead, but we can’t deny we’re in a very good position in the league, we’re in the final of the Copa and we’re still in the Champions League so, yes, I said, we’re in a good position,” he commented.

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