Real Madrid keeping tabs on Ivanovic; Schweinsteiger urges Bayern to spend big

Real Madrid keeping tabs on Ivanovic

Real Madrid are pondering a summer bid for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, Daily Mail understands.

Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho wants to bolster his defensive options and he is eager to bring the Serbian defender to Santiago Bernabeu.

Ivanovic has seen his stock rise thanks to some very good showings this term and he was also linked with a move to Napoli earlier this season.

Daily Mail believes that Chelsea value the versatile defender at £12 million, which is well within Real’s price range.

After deciding to play Sergio Ramos in the heart of defence, Mourinho was left short of options at right-back, with Alvaro Arbeloa, Lassana Diarra and even Hamit Altintop used on the right hand side.

The Portuguese manager believes Ivanovic would be a good addition to the squad at Santiago Bernabeu and he is expected to step up his interest as soon as the transfer window opens in the summer.

Schweinsteiger urges Bayern to spend big

German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has urged Bayern Munich chiefs to sign at least two world-class players next summer.

The Bavarians invested considerable amount of money into new players at the start of the season, but the team, nonetheless, failed to fully realize their potential.

While Bayern did well to reach Champions League group stages, the Alianz Arena outfit have been unable to end Dortmund’s domestic dominance and they look set to miss out on yet another Bundesliga title.

Star player Bastian Schweinsteiger believes that Bayern need to stay true to their policy of recruiting high-profile players every summer.

“Heynckes has correctly said that every season you have to make two top class transfers”, the highly rated midfielder told Kicker.

“If you look at the other teams, you can see that they are already strengthening the depth they have as they already have other options.”

Bayern have already secured the signing of talented midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri from FC Basel.

Bordeaux confirm interest in Chamakh

Ligue 1 side Bordeaux have confirmed reports that they are interested in bringing Marouane Chamakh back to Stade Chaban Delmas.

The Moroccan striker left Bordeaux on a free transfer to join Arsenal in July 2010, but he has been utterly disappointing at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger is now looking to offload the 28-year-old to make room for new players and everything suggests that Chamakh will return to Stade Chaban Delmas.

Les Girondins chairman Jean Louis Triaud reveals he talked with the player about a possible return to the club.

“I have spoken with Marouane and told him that he is welcome at Bordeaux and that we still have room for him,” Jean Louis Triaud told Radio Monte Carlo.

“The main problem will be financial because he has tasted the salaries in England and Arsenal will ask for a fee.

“Chamakh has told me that if he was to return to France, it would be at Bordeaux.”

The experienced forward scored just one goal in nine Premier League appearances this season and looks set for the summer exit.

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