Real Madrid powerbrokers decide on Ayala

Real Madrid trainer Carlos Queiroz held a one-hour breakfast summit with president Florentino Perez and sports chief Jorge Valdano yesterday.

The three men discussed transfer plans for the coming week and agreed that a new centre-half and a central midfielder were priorities.

Valdano is convinced Real can sign Roberto Ayala from Valencia, but it was agreed the club's fringe players must be offloaded to make room on the club's wage-bill.

Pedro Munitis, Steve McManaman and Julio Caesar are among those needed to be shifted out before Real launch a £7 million raid for Ayala.