Real Madrid attacking midfielder James Rodriguez looks set to leave the European Champions at the end of the season with a host of Premier League clubs interested in the Colombian.
Rodriguez, 25, joined Real Madrid in 2014 for 80 Million euro from AS Monaco, making him the most expensive Colombian footballer since Radamel Falcao’s 60 million euro transfer from Atletico Madrid to AS Monaco in 2013.
Rodriguez’s time in Madrid has been up and down and since returning from injury, he has found it hard to make it in to the first team under current Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane. And with the French manager insisting his backroom staff to scout more midfielders, James Rodriguez’s future looks set to be away from the Bernabeu.
Many Premier League clubs have shown interest in the midfielder and reports of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool being the most likely destination for the Colombian.
Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, coached the midfielder whilst manager of Real Madrid and is keen to sign the player to add more attacking potency to the side. Speculation arose earlier in the year that Real Madrid had offered the Colombian in exchange for Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper, David De Gea, but those rumours went away but will likely re surface once again in the summer.
Another exchange deal has been reported, this time involving Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. Zinedine Zidane is a huge fan of the Belgian attacker and is willing to offer Rodriguez plus money in exchange for Hazard.
The most recent report of Rodriguez’s next destination is to Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp reportedly confident of signing the midfielder, as long as Liverpool make the top 4 and gain a Champions League place. Klopp has been a long time admirer of Rodriguez and had attempted to sign the player in the summer according to reports, but Madrid were unwilling to sell.
Rodriguez would be a great asset to the Premier League and if I could see him playing in England for anyone, it would probably be Manchester United, as Mourinho knows him well and that Jorge Mendes, agent of both Rodriguez and Mourinho, would be able to muster up a deal between the two clubs.
