Chelsea Ready To Splash Out Almost £80 Million For Real Madrid Midfielder

Chelsea’s winning start to the new Premier League season may be about to get better following a report that the London club are willing to spend big on Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

The Pensioners are seeking to bounce back from a terrible season last term and the arrival of former Italy manager Antonio Conte has seen a renewed enthusiasm at Stamford Bridge.

Now, according to Spanish media outlet Sport, Conte is preparing to dip into his £130 million transfer war chest and make an audacious £78 million bid for out of favour Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez.

Arriving from Monaco in 2014, the 26-year-old has failed to secure consistent first team football at the Bernabéu and has been linked with a move away this summer, with reported interest coming from Manchester United and Arsenal, among others.

Rodriguez alluded to a massive €85 million bid made for his services earlier in the summer but, to his credit, he chose to remain in Madrid in order to fight for his place in Zinedin Zidane’s plans for the coming season, reportedly saying at the time.

"I will fight to earn my place. That’s my dream. I will stay at Real Madrid. I will succeed here."

If a Chelsea offer of the magnitude reported does actually materialise, you might well assume that Zidane would not think too hard about whether to cash in on a player that is way down the pecking order.

As of now there is no news of an official bid form Chelsea but with money to spend and a player of the Columbia international’s quality, it may just be a matter of time before another Premier League makes a move for talent midfielder.