Real Madrid have offered more than 45 million euros (US$65 million) for Valencia striker David Villa, the top scorer at Euro 2008, which was won by Spain, Spanish media reported on Monday.
The amount which the club, which is looking for a possible replacement for Brazilian striker Robinho, who wants to join Chelsea, are willing to pay for the 26-year-old varies between 47 million euros and 48 million euros, the Web sites of sports dailies Marca and AS reported.
Valencia has so far rejected the offer, but a meeting between officials from both clubs and the player’s agent was scheduled for yesterday, AS reported.
Real’s German coach Bernd Schuster has insistently demanded that the club recruit a striker if Robinho leaves the Spanish champions as he has said he would like to, Spanish media have reported.
Among the other strikers who have been linked to a move to Real are Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Lyon’s Karim Benzema and Ajax’s Klas-Jan Huntelaar.
Real, which failed in its bid to lure Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United, has not been very active in the European summer transfer period which ends at the end of the month and has the financial resources for a major deal.
Real Madrid forward Robinho will reportedly soon complete his desired transfer to English club Chelsea.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was holding negotiations with Madrid officials in the Spanish capital and was set to agree a fee of close to 40 million euros for the Brazilian, Marca reported yesterday.
Chelsea, coached by Robinho’s fellow Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, is said to have offered Robinho a large increase on his current reported 2.1 million euro annual salary.
Robinho, who is under contract until 2010, recently pleaded with Madrid to let him move to Stamford Bridge before the close of the European transfer window on Aug. 31.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon said at the weekend that Robinho could terminate his contract and join Chelsea, but suggested he would have to pay a large sum to do so.
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