Real Madrid chief Pedja: January signings will be made

Real Madrid sports chief Pedja Mijatovic has confirmed plans to strengthen the squad in January.

"We will try and strengthen the team with a forward player. We don't know if it will be a front-line striker, a playmaker or a wide player," he said last night.

"We are working towards this, but we are not going to deny that there are difficulties."

"We wanted to sign a forward in the summer, we wanted Cristiano Ronaldo first and then David Villa, but although we couldn't get them we had confidence in the players that we had."

"Nobody could have predicted what has happened in the last few weeks though. For example Van Nistelrooy being out for nine months is not normal."

"Now we are obliged to look for a striker. We don't want to sign someone just for the sake of it, but to try and bring someone in who will help us until June and in the future. The demands of Real Madrid are very high."

"We are looking at some names and we will do everything possible to bring in one or two players to help us."