Transfer Centre

Real Madrid 'to offer James Rodriguez in Paul Pogba deal'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 08 June 2019

Real Madrid are reportedly willing to offer James Rodriguez as a makeweight in any deal to sign Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer.

Real Madrid are reportedly considering offering James Rodriguez as a makeweight in any bid to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United this summer.

Pogba has been relentlessly linked with a move away from Old Trafford following a tumultuous campaign on and off the field, with Madrid understood to be leading the race for his signature ahead of Barcelona and Juventus.

However, Los Blancos are reportedly unwilling and unable to meet United's £159m valuation of the 2018 World Cup winner, having already agreed a deal to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

The Daily Star reports that Madrid will offer £111m in cash and will try to make up the difference by offloading unwanted players as part of the deal.

Rodriguez has been told that he is not in Zinedine Zidane's plans at the Bernabeu following his return from a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, and United are one of a cluster of Premier League clubs thought to be interested in the Colombian.

Reports elsewhere have suggested that Madrid will instead look to use Gareth Bale as a makeweight, but the Spanish giants are understood to also be open to using Rodriguez.

The 27-year-old joined Madrid after starring at the 2014 World Cup, but he failed to nail down a regular starting spot at the Bernabeu and remains out of favour under Zidane.