Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona in El Clasico battle for 19-year-old midfielder
Real Madrid’s links with Gabri Veiga has been well-documented this year, with the Spanish giants reportedly targeting the Celta Vigo starlet as a potential reinforcement in the midfield department.
However, according to Oscar Mendez, Veiga is not the only Celta Vigo player Real Madrid are targeting ahead of the new season. The Spanish journalist points out that the club are also tracking the progress of Hugo Sotelo.
A central midfielder by trade, Sotelo currently plies his trade with Celta’s subsidiary squad. Although he has featured in just one La Liga match so far this season, the youngster has made a tremendous impact for the reserve squad.
He has featured prominently in midfield, showcasing his technical prowess and ability in possession. His performances have not gotten unnoticed, with Barcelona and Real Madrid both keeping close tabs on his development.
However, the report points out that Celta Vigo are not too keen on offloading their prized asset. The club consider the player quite highly and believe he has what it takes to become an asset for the team in the years to come.
Celta Vigo, therefore, will refer to the youngster’s release clause of €10 million to any suitors. The club believe neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid will want to pay that much amount for a player who would join the subsidiary squad, especially under the current market circumstances.
Furthermore, the Galician outfit is planning to offer him a new contract this summer, which will see his release clause amount raised to €20 million initially and to a higher value after a certain period.
It appears Celta Vigo’s primary plan is to nurture Sotelo and make him follow in the footsteps of Veiga, which in turn, could significantly increase his valuation. Only then, the club may consider his exit.
But for now, Real Madrid and Barcelona have no option but to continue monitoring the youngster’s development in Vigo.
Real Madrid News
Harry Kane ‘very close’ to completing Real Madrid move, only final details remain – report
Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid was finally closed earlier today as officially confirmed by Borussia Dortmund on their website. Yet, the offices at Santiago Bernabeu have not even taken a break to celebrate their success.
According to reports from Alfredo Pedullà, Los Blancos are now completely focused on the acquisition of Harry Kane. The English striker’s arrival is very close to approaching closure and only a few details remain to be sorted.
The Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur representatives reportedly held a meeting today over the striker’s transfer. The agenda was to agree on a number for the transfer fee.
The Premier League side began the proceedings with an expectation of €100 to €110 million in exchange for Kane. However, the Merengues suggested a lower point at €80 to €90 million, albeit with the option to include bonuses.
There is not much separating the two parties at the moment, and the minor gap will be bridged in the coming days. Overall, the meeting ended with a broad understanding between the two clubs.
Carlo Ancelotti sees the English striker as the centre-piece of his attack for next season given the recent departure of Karim Benzema. After all, Kane has been one of football’s most consistent goalscorers over the past decade.
Yet, Los Blancos cannot afford to let their guard down with one signing and will need to rope in at least two more names in attack to serve as backup options. The exits of Mariano Diaz, Marco Asensio, and Eden Hazard leave them with no squad depth, after all.
Kane has scored 30, 17, and 23 goals in his last three seasons in the Premier League and is the epitome of consistency. Further, he had three assists in his most recent league season and created 14 big chances.
