Reports: Real Madrid set to sell their star player in the summer
What’s the story?
Real Madrid are ready to sell Luka Modric in the summer according to Don Balon. The Spanish publication report that the Bernabeu side are looking to replace the Croatian with a young midfielder when the transfer window opens.
Bayern Munich are reportedly the team interested in signing the star midfielder. The Germans want him to replace Xabi Alonso, who has announced his retirement from professional football. Los Blancos are said to be demanding £27 million for the playmaker who turns 32 this summer.
In case you didn’t know...
Luka Modric was signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012 for a fee reported to be in the region of £30 million. The midfielder had an awful start to his career at Madrid and was voted the 'worst signing of the summer' by La Liga fans.
However, the midfielder quickly turned things around and became the most valuable player in the squad. He stepped his game when Carlo Ancelotti took over from Jose Mourinho and has been a regular in the midfield for Los Blancos ever since.
Bayern and Madrid share strong relations despite the clubs facing off in the UEFA Champions League last eight that was filled with controversies. The teams have been involved in the transfers of Arjen Robben, Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos in recent seasons.
The heart of the matter
Real Madrid are planning a squad overhaul in the summer and are planning to build a team for the future. Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane are said to be keen on adding young talents to the squad to replace the players who have crossed the age of 30.
Modric, who turned 31 last year, is one of the players who will be leaving the club in the summer according to reports in Spain. The midfielder, who joined the club in 2012, is considered to be their best midfielder despite Toni Kroos being in impressive form.
Bayern Munich have reportedly decided to take advantage of this situation and are ready to swoop in for the Croatian. La Lige leaders have reportedly slapped a price tag of £27 million on the former Tottenham star, and that is a fee that the Germans are ready to match.
What’s next?
Real Madrid will wait till they reach an agreement with the possible replacement for Modric before concluding the deal with Bayern. Marco Verratti and Augusto Galvan are said to be the club's primary targets for the summer.
Author’s Take
When Madrid sold Xabi to Bayern, everyone believed that they would never be able to replace him. But they got Toni Kroos. Now with Modric set to leave, people are saying the same thing.
It'll be interesting to see who Madrid get to replace Modric with, but one thing for sure is that the fans are not going to be happy with the transfer straight away.