Real Madrid consider Kroos-Dybala swap, Arsenal & Spurs target Ceballos

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REAL MADRID CONSIDER KROOS-DYBALA SWAP

Rai Sport is reporting that Real Madrid have earmarked Paulo Dybala as one of their primary transfer targets for next summer, and are willing to offer Juventus Toni Kroos in exchange for the Argentine. The Italian side are said to be prepared to increase Dybala’s salary in order to keep him at the club, but are not ready to keep him at all costs.

RATING: 6/10

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It’s no surprise that Real Madrid would step up their interest in Dybala – the Juventus playmaker has plenty of high-profile suitors, having been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona as well as Los Meringues. And as the Paul Pogba saga of last year showed, despite Juventus’ stature and success, ultimately even their best players have a price. Whatever increased salary they can offer Dybala, it’s almost certain that other clubs could match or beat it.

This proposed deal may be the best Juventus can get; even if other clubs are willing to pay a transfer fee close to £150million or even £200million, there aren’t many players who Juventus could buy with that money who’d be as good as Toni Kroos. And for Madrid, while Kroos has been a stellar player, they have plenty of promising midfielders in the ranks to offset the loss. It’ll be hard for their rivals to top this offer.

PREMIER LEAGUE RIVALS PLAN CEBALLOS SWOOP

Diario Gol claims Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos is a target for both Arsenal and Tottenham, with AC Milan, Roma, and Ceballos’ former club Real Betis also said to be interested. Ceballos has struggled for game time at Madrid and could move in January.

RATING: 3/10

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Dani Ceballos is 21, has just arrived at the reigning European and Spanish champions, not to mention one of the biggest clubs in the world, and has a midfield of Casemiro, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos to try to unseat. If anyone in his camp, including the player himself, thought he’d instantly be a regular, they were deluding themselves.

But, by that same token, it makes little sense that he’d lose hope and want to leave so quickly. Learning from the midfielders ahead of him in the Madrid pecking order, as well as remaining under the tutelage of Zinedine Zidane, while getting whatever playing time he can get, is an excellent strategy for Ceballos’ development, and one he’s likely to keep trying for at least another year or so.

ALLARDYCE PLANNING N’ZONZI REUNION

According to the Daily Mail, Sam Allardyce wants to bring Steven N’Zonzi to Everton. The Sevilla midfielder worked under Allardyce at Blackburn, and he could be allowed to leave his current club having apparently fallen out with manager Eduardo Berizzo.

RATING: 7/10

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This transfer would make a lot of sense, especially if the reports of the fall-out between Berizzo and N’Zonzi are true. Allardyce scouted N’Zonzi and brought him to the Premier League, so the Everton manager is clearly aware of the France international’s talent. The Toffees struggling to find a reliable midfielder within their own squad at the moment, and N’Zonzi seems a natural fit.

He’s not quite the typical robust, physical Sam Allardyce midfielder, given his technical ability, but N’Zonzi’s previous experience in England shows he can handle the Premier League. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this move go through in January.