Geremi stays with Real Madrid

Real Madrid look set to turn down Chelsea's offer for defender Geremi Fotso as the club wants to keep the Cameroon defender.

Sports manager Jorge Valdano told reporters on Sunday evening that Real were having second thoughts about accepting Chelsea's $US 10m offer for Geremi, who looks set for a bright future at the Bernabeu.

Valdano said: "Geremi is a player who can succeed at right-back and help us out in central defence when necessary." Real's sudden U-turn in the Geremi case may have become apparent following Zaragoza's recent interest for midfielder Santiago Solari, who may now be sacrificed to raise cash for future signings.

The Madrilenos plan to sell or loan at least six squad members but losing Geremi at this stage could prove costly for the club, who are keen to tighten up the defence before the new season.

Valdano added that they may still be new signings, "to complement the squad" and confirmed that the club is working to find outlets for surplus staff such as Baljic, Congo, Ognjenovic and Rodrigo, who could all find themselves at foreign outfits before September.