Madrid To Use Van Der Vaart To Sign Young?

zocoss SG

Real Madrid might have already signed Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra this winter, but it doesn't look as though the defending La Liga champions will be stopping there.

Reports in the Spanish press have linked Los Blancos to plenty of players around the world - and most recently, to Ashley Young. The Aston Villa star has been in fine form lately and has apparently caught the eye of Real Madrid, who now want to bring him to the Bernabéu.

However, with a reported price of €32 million, Sport.es believes that they will try to use midfielder, Rafael Van Der Vaart, as part-payment for the player. The Dutch international only signed in the summer but he has been out of form lately, and rumours have started about his possible exit.

The player himself has admitted lately that he does not know if he will be playing for Real Madrid at the end of the season, but surely even he would not expect an exit this soon.

The idea appears to be similar to methods they tried to use with both Julio Baptista and Robinho, neither of whom ended up as swap deals.

The latter was basically offered to Manchester United on a plate in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo, but eventually went to Manchester City. And they attempted to include Baptista in plenty of transfers that never went through, and he ended up at Roma.

Certainly the treatment of Van De Vaart does seem strange lately, with the Dutchman getting left on the bench whilst lesser-known players go on ahead of him.

The club are unlikely to want to see him leave, but for a trade they may well be willing.

Chris88110 SG

OMG, you've got to be kidding, Van der vaart is way better than young

Saltiga SG

ya man.. another of those crappy story coming out from Real.. i dun think he would want too..

Melayusentiasa SG

Imagine VDV playing in those plain Aston Villa coloured kits

zocoss SG

Ashley Young

Real Madrid have not given up hope of signing Ashley Young from Aston Villa. While the Spanish champions' players have been given time off to celebrate Christmas, Sportsmail understands that the club's hierarchy are working on a deal to prise the young England forward from the Barclays Premier League.

Real are well aware that they face an uphill task to sign the 23-year-old, but coach Juande Ramos has made him his No 1 transfer target to join Lassana Diarra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as new faces in the Spanish capital.

Any deal will cost in excess of £25million and Real could also struggle to convince Young to quit Villa Park. But the embarrassment of being snubbed by Liverpool winger Jermain Pennant has made Real even more determined to land their man.

Juande Ramos

Madrid president Ramon Calderon, sporting director Predrag Mijatovic and coach Ramos will discuss their strategy throughout the Yuletide period.

One option is to offer Rafael van der Vaart in part of a player-plus-cash deal. The Holland forward has struggled with injuries and form since signing from Hamburg in the summer.

The club have already completed the £20m signing of holding midfielder Diarra from Portsmouth and £19m capture of Holland striker Huntelaar from Ajax.