Spanish giants battling for Etienne Capoue; Benfica agree to sign Real hotshot

Spanish giants battling for Etienne Capoue

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are showing interest in Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, France Football reveals.

The highly rated midfielder, who started his professional career at Stadium Municipal, has seen his name linked with a number of high-profile clubs over the last few months.

France Football now claims that La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have also joined the race.

The 23-year-old has a contract until June 2015 with the Ligue 1 side, meaning that he won’t come on the cheap, and the French newspaper believes it would take an offer in the region of €10 million for Toulouse to part ways with their star player.

Tottenham and Schalke are also keen on the holding midfielder, who has represented France at various youth levels but is yet to earn a senior cap.

Toulouse appear to be ready to cash in on their prized asset, but only if their target Alou Diarra agrees a switch to Stadium Municipal.

Benfica agree to sign Real hotshot

Benfica are on the verge of completing the signing of Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez, according to Record.

The Portuguese newspaper claims that negotiations between the two clubs are well advanced and that the transfer will be completed in the coming days.

Even if the player’s current contract is set to expire on 30th June, Real Madrid have the option to extend his deal at the end of the season, which is why Benfica had to negotiate directly with the club.

The Eagles president Luis Filipe Vieira has been in Madrid over the last few weeks and it looks as though he has reached an agreement with Real chiefs.

The news will come as a big surprise to Real Madrid fans, seeing that the 19-year-old is seen as one of the hottest prospects at the club.

The promising forward has scored 7 goals in 34 league games for Real’s B side Castilla, helping the team reach play-offs for promotion to Segunda.

Ajax confirm interest in Poulsen

Ajax boss Franck de Boer has confirmed his interest in Danish full-back Simon Poulsen.

The experienced defender is set to leave AZ Alkmaar when his contact expires at the end of the season, but it appears that he will remain in Eredivisie.

Ajax are looking for a new left-back after Nicolai Boilesen picked up a new hamstring injury and boss Frank de Boer admits Simon Poulsen is the obvious choice.

“It seems logical that we think about Poulsen,” De Boer told Dutch news agency ANP.

“Daley Blind is now doing very well on the left and Dico Koppers has also played there, but Nicolai Boilesen is unlikely to play all 34 games next season.”

The Amsterdammers are, therefore, set to jump at the opportunity to sign the highly rated defender on a free transfer, while they plan to bring another centre-back as well.

AZ Alkmaar’s Niklas Moisander and NEC starlet Bram Nuytinck are seen as the most likely candidates to replace Jan Vertonghen, who looks set to leave the club at the end of the season.

For more news about football transfers and rumours, visit our Transfer News section. To view all football transfers for 2011/12 season, visit our Soccer Transfers section.