REAL MADRID are lining up a deal that would see Thiago Alcantara and James Rodriguez swap clubs this summer, according to reports, and Isco approves.
Playmaker Rodriguez has spent the season on loan with Bayern Munich – who won the Bundesliga title last weekend for the sixth consecutive year by beating Augsburg – and has enjoyed an incredibly fruitful spell in Germany.
The 26-year-old – a £63million signing for Los Blancos after the 2014 World Cup – has returned six goals and 10 assists from 20 league appearances for Jupp Heynckes’ side, directly playing his part in a goal every 83 minutes.
And his performances are very much in the minds of Real’s board as they look for a long-term successor to Luka Modric, whose future at the Bernabeu is uncertain.
That’s the word from Diario Gol, who indicate that former Barcelona youngster Thiago is one of their main targets to replace the Croatian.
That transfer would get a huge thumbs-up from Madrid maestro Isco, who is said to be very good friends with Spain team-mate Thiago.
But according to the Spanish news outlet, Real president Florentino Perez also sees Juventus’ Miralem Pjanic and Tottenham Hotspur creator Christian Eriksen as possible alternative acquisitions.
Diario Gol go on to add that a deal which could see Thiago go one way and Rodriguez the other is a distinct possibility.
Rodriguez has one year left of a two-year temporary spell at the Allianz Arena with Bayern having paid a reported £4.5m loan fee this season, and another of the same amount due next term.
The deal is thought to be include a clause which makes the move permanent for £31m.
The report continues that any transfer could be a straight swap or Real may demand money for Rodriguez in addition to Thiago’s inclusion in the deal.
Colombian international Rodriguez recently declared himself pleased with the club’s appointment of Niko Kovac – who will replace Heynckes after the end of the season – to suggest that he will remain in Bavaria for beyond another 12 months.
He said: “He’s a young coach and he has done well at Eintracht Frankfurt. I hope he comes here with a big desire to win titles. That’s what a big club always wants.”
Real and Bayern face each other in the semi-finals of the Champions League, with the first leg in Germany next Wednesday (7.45pm).