Real Madrid 'plotting' Man City raid to bolster defence and attack and more transfer rumours

Real Madrid lost out to Manchester City in the race to sign Erling Haaland, but it appears that the Spanish champions will soon renew their efforts - but not just for the Norway international.

City signed Haaland at the start of the summer when they activated the £51m release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract, but the battle was won in the months before that when they managed to persuade him to move to Manchester rather than Madrid.

The 22-year-old striker penned a five-year contract with City, but fresh reports in Spanish publication Diario AS claim that Madrid will attempt to pry him away in the summer of 2024.

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Not only that - AS also claims that Carlo Ancelotti's side will try to sign City defender Joao Cancelo next summer, as they search for ways to replace the ageing Dani Carvajal. The report states that Madrid believe an offer of €50m would be enough to tempt City to sell.

Given how important Cancelo is to Pep Guardiola's system, such a deal would surely be difficult to pull off. Add to that the fact that the Portugal international signed a contract extension in February - tying him to City until 2027 - and Madrid would have to come in with a huge offer.

Meanwhile, reports elsewhere in Spain claim that Barcelona might make an unexpected move for City captain Ilkay Gundogan next summer.

The 31-year-old midfielder is into the final year of his contract and is yet to hold discussions over a potential extension. While the German is an important member of City's squad, he is not a guaranteed starter and in recent months has spoken about his frustrations of not starting games he thinks he deserves to.

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