Real Madrid transfer news: Mbappe, Hazard, Pogba, Bale

Real Madrid are set to break the world transfer record by tabling a £240m offer for Paris Saint-Germain magician Kylian Mbappe.

Taking its cue from France Football magazine, the Daily Mail reports that Real gaffer Zinedine Zidane is about to take an axe to his failing squad, shipping out the has-beens and shipping in the stars he believes can launch a serious challenge to Barcelona’s dominance in Spain.

The Mail says that landing Mbappe would be the first act in an astonishing shopping spree that would also snap up Eden Hazard and Paul Pogba.

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The Chelsea playmaker and Manchester United midfielder have long been linked to Real but apparently Zidane’s priority is to lure 20-year-old Mbappe to the Bernabeu.

To make way for the French World Cup winner Zidane will show the door to Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Isco and Karim Benzema.

£100m for Hazard

As for Hazard, the Mail picks up on a claim in Spanish newspaper AS that the Belgian is close to agreeing terms and all that remains is for Chelsea and Real to settle on a fee.

The Blues want around £100m but they may have to settle for less with the Spanish club in a strong position knowing that Hazard could leave on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

But the Daily Mirror says that Chelsea are “refusing to be cowed” by the spectre of losing Hazard for free, and they have already knocked back two offers from Real because they were “way below the Blues’ valuation”.

Priced out

Pogba’s price tag of £160m makes it highly unlikely that Real would be able to afford the Frenchman in the same window as Mbappe and Hazard. And the Mail says that United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is “keen to keep the France international due to his mass commercial appeal”.

However, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer isn’t so convinced of Pogba’s worth and the Mirror says that the Norwegian and Woodward are on a “collision course” as a consequence.

Apparently Solskjaer doesn’t want to keep a player “whose heart isn’t in playing for United… as he seeks to make serious change at the club”.

Pogba is determined to leave Old Trafford and will push for a move this summer. According to The Daily Telegraph, his departure will hinge on United “dramatically lowering their £160m valuation”.

Bale’s Real future in doubt

Real head coach Zidane refused to comment on Gareth Bale’s future after dropping the Welsh forward for the 3-2 win against Villarreal on Sunday.

Quoted by Sky Sports, Zidane said: “I’m the coach, I have to pick the team and that’s all there is to it. You can interpret it as you wish. I need to pick a squad of players and some are going to miss out.”

Linked with Manchester United, the Daily Mail reports that 29-year-old Bale wants to stay at Real but has been told he does not fit in Zidane’s plans.