Real eye world class quartet

Real Madrid are lining up a quartet of the world's top players to reinforce their bid for a ninth European Cup next term.

After announcing their interest in signing Zinedine Zidane, the Spanish champions also hope to lure Lilian Thuram, Javier Zanetti and Marcalo Salas to the Bernabeu.

Real's director of football, Jorge Valdano announced recently: "We want to sign a player for every line, defence, midfield and attack."

But after drawing up a trio of Thuram, Zidane and Salas, Madrid have now added Zanetti to their budget.

Zidane has continuously been linked with a move to the Spanish capital and Juventus would find an offer that matched their $US 45million asking price a difficult proposition to turn down.

"Nothing will be done until the end of both the Spanish and the Italian season, but then we will see if Zinedine is really interested in coming here," said Real president Florentino Perez.

Thuram, who has been linked with Manchester United and Juventus, and this week pulled out of a deal to join Lazio, would cost Real around $US 40million, but Real would offer players in exchange with Michel Salgado favourite to make way for the French defender.

Salas is down the pecking at order at Lazio and would jump at the chance of a move to Spain while Zanetti has already expressed an interest in moving to La Liga when Barcelona suggested they would be interested in his services.