Transfer Centre

Real Madrid 'planning January raid of Premier League'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 07 November 2017

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly identifies five Premier League players as possible January targets, including Alexis Sanchez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Real Madrid are reportedly planning to raid the Premier League for five players during the January transfer window in an attempt to salvage their season.

The Spanish and European champions have suffered a disappointing start to the campaign, finding themselves already eight points adrift of bitter rivals Barcelona and second in their Champions League group following defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Diario Gol reports that Madrid's form has worried club president Florentino Perez enough for him to draft up a shortlist of 10 players he will target once the transfer window reopens in January.

All 10 are understood to be players whose contract expires at the end of the season and so could be available in cut-price deals, with half of those on the list currently plying their trade in the Premier League.

Madrid's number one target is understood to be Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and formerly played for Barcelona.

Perez is also thought to be targeting another former Barca player in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, although his age is understood to be a negative while he has not played for Manchester United since April as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Ibrahimovic's Old Trafford teammates Ander Herrera and Juan Mata - the latter of whom came through the ranks at Madrid - are also thought to be of interest, as is Liverpool midfielder Emre Can.

Schalke's Leon Goretzka, Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij, Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa and Atletico Madrid pair Lucas Hernandez and Jose Gimenez are reported to make up the rest of Perez's wishlist.