Manchester United are willing to spend big to complete the signing of unsettled playmaker James Rodriguez from Real Madrid in the January transfer window.
Rodriguez was tipped for a move away from Real Madrid in January, after reportedly falling out with Rafa Benitez. However, it looked like that transfer might be put on hold when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez decided to replace Benitez with Zinedine Zidane.
The Colombian, though, has still found it difficult to get into the Real Madrid team from the start, opening up a possible winter move. The fact that Zidane does not consider Rodriguez as an ideal candidate to play in the front three was evident when the new manager brought Jese on for the injured Gareth Bale in the 5-1 victory over Sporting Gijon at the weekend.
Manchester United have been the team keeping close tabs on the James Rodriguez situation at Real Madrid, and could now take advantage by putting in a bid over the next few days.
The amount of that bid will not be small, though, and will have to be in the region of €85million (around £65m), according to Fichajes. Money is never an issue for Manchester United, and if Louis Van Gaal and Ed Woodward, the manager and executive vice chairman respectively, feel Rodriguez is worth it, the offer could go in quickly.
Manchester United could certainly use a creative force in their lineup, with no player, apart from maybe Anthony Martial, looking capable of opening up defences at the moment. Rodriguez has the pace, skill and vision to unlock any defence, and on his day can be unplayable.
While doing a big deal is always difficult in January, if there is a possibility of Manchester United convincing Real Madrid to sell Rodriguez, it should be done without too much hesitation.
However, the chances of Real Madrid letting go of the Colombia international, even if he is not too happy at the moment, remains unlikely, and the better chance is of a deal going through in the summer.
