According to reports from The Express this afternoon, Real Madrid have entered the race to sign Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.
The Argentina international has just come to the end of a strong campaign in La Liga, netting six times in 35 appearances whilst averaging 2.9 tackles, 3.1 interceptions, 7.3 clearances and 3.5 successful aerial duels per match.
That’s reportedly triggered interest from Manchester United and Manchester City, as This Is Futbol revealed in May, but Los Che remain adamant any potential suitor must activate the 27 year-old’s £35million release clause.
And according to The Express, Real Madrid are hoping to capitalise on United’s thus far reluctance to do so by launching their own bid for the former Porto man, who claimed three Primeira Liga titles and the 2012 Europa League title during his four-year tenure with the Portuguese outfit.
That, in turn, could see one of Los Blancos’ current centre-backs leave the Bernabeu this summer. Chelsea are known admirers of Raphael Varane, with Jose Mourinho describing him as ‘the best young defender in the world‘ in March 2014, and Otamendi’s arrival could resultantly see them attempt to prize him away from the Spanish capital.