Gareth Bale is expected to lead an exodus at Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, with six teammates set to follow the him out of the door.
The 32-year-old's lucrative contract, worth roughly £600,000 per week, expires in June and Bale is set to finally become a free agent after a rollercoaster nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Welsh superstar has picked up four Champions League winners' medals and two La Liga titles since moving from Tottenham Hotspur in a then world-record £85million deal in 2013.
In recent years, though, a dramatic drop-off in form has seen him receive relentless criticism from supporters and Spanish media alike. But Bale is not the only Los Blancos star on his way out, as Marca name six more players up for sale. The Madrid-based media outlet reckon that Real are open to selling £50million flop Luka Jovic, recently linked with Arsenal in their search for a new striker. Another name who will be familiar to Gunners fans is Dani Ceballos, who is also struggling to find a place in Carlo Ancelotti 's team.
Ceballos spent the past two seasons at the Emirates but returned to the Santiago Bernabeu at the beginning of this term, hoping to cement a spot under legendary manager Ancelotti. Sadly for the midfielder, he has made just eight appearances this campaign, all coming from the bench.
Defender Jesus Vallejo, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and striker Mariano Diaz are two more likely departures. The latter recently became embroiled in controversy alongside Bale, as the pair of substitutes were late out of the dressing room for the second half of Saturday's Karim Benzema -inspired 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo.
Lyon are interested in re-signing Mariano, while Vallejo is claimed to be wanted by a number of La Liga clubs. Right-back Alvaro Odriozola is next up and currently out on loan at Fiorentina, making 19 starts in Italy this season to stake a claim for the Serie A side to turn his stay into a permanent one once the window opens.
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Lastly, ex- Manchester City starlet Brahim Diaz is set to wave goodbye to Los Blancos after only 21 first-team outings, although his loan deal with AC Milan lasts until the end of next term. With the Bernabeu still being renovated at a cost of around £714million and number one transfer target Kylian Mbappe on the market, Real are clearly attempting to drum up cash this summer.
Los Blancos president Florentino Perez already launched an eleventh-hour bid for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar on transfer deadline day last year, only to see the new world-record offer rejected by the French giants. But with Mbappe's contract in Paris expiring at the end of the campaign, Perez and co are confident in getting a deal done.
The 22-year-old, however, is yet to decide his future, having been asked by RMC Sport whether staying at PSG was an option after they thrashed Lorient 5-1 on Sunday. "Yes, of course," was Mbappe's reply after scoring twice and assisting the other three goals for Lionel Messi and Neymar - not something that Real will be glad to hear.
