Marseille in Saviola Talks As Madrid Look To Off-Load Trio
Real Madrid are locked in talks with Olympique de Marseille over a loan deal for Javier Saviola after the Spanish club included him in their list of players the want to off-load in January.
Real Madrid are locked in talks with Olympique de Marseille over a loan deal for Javier Saviola after the Spanish club included him in their list of players the want to off-load in January.
The French club are keen to tie up the deal that would see the Argentinian striker move to the Stade Vélodrome until the end of the current season, according to Sport.
Saviola has experience of Ligue 1 after enjoying a season on loan with Monaco and Marseille believe that he could have the same impact with them.
After seeing out the final year of his contract with Barcalona last term, the 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer.
President Ramón Calderón was confident that he had pulled off a shrewd signing, but instead Saviola has failed to prove himself and is unwanted by coach Bernd Schuster.
Now the former River Plate star is set to leave the club as he was named on a list of three players that Madrid are keen to send out on loan for the rest of the campaign.
Royston Drenthe is the second name as Schuster has yet to be convinced that the Dutch youngster is ready to play at the highest level either in midfield or defence.
Sport state that Madrid are in contact with Fiorentina about a deal for the player that cost the Spanish giants €15m from Feyenoord before the start of the season.
The third player is back-up goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek who has stated that he would like to leave the club in order to push his claim for a place in the Polish squad for Euro 2008.
While the veteran stopper knew that he would play second string to Iker Casillas this term, Poland have now told him that he must be playing regularly to be considered.
Julio Baptista's was also being considered before he proved that he still has plenty to offer Madrid and won the affection of both Schuster and the fans before Christmas.
Madrid wanted Javier Balboa to also go out on loan, but the young forward has asked to stay until the end of the season to continue gaining experience at the Bernabéu.