Mauro Zarate Lands On Madrid's Radar

The list of stellar names being lined up to travel to the Bernabeu in January is ever-increasing. The top targets already inlcude Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez, but now a new and intriguing name has been added.

Mauro Zarate has been in blistering form for Lazio and has been the main catalyst in their rise into the top four of Serie A. The former Birmingham player has grabbed seven goals in eleven matches so far, and his general play has led to comments from some quarters that he has the potential to be the 'Messi of the Italian league'.

The twenty-one-year old joined Lazio on loan from Qatar side Al-Saad, who had paid in excess of $20 million to purchase him from Velez Sarsfield just twelve months earlier.

The Argentinean is a prodigious talent who is finally beginning to realise his full potential in Rome, and the Biancocelesti have until 30 April 2009 to raise the funds to make the deal permanent.

However, reports surfacing from Marca.com suggest that Madrid are ready to intercept the move and bring the forward to Spain immediately.

It is no secret that Madrid will be active in the transfer market in January to combat rivals Barcelona's impressive start to the campaign, and Zarate is exactly the type of player to thrill the crowds and get the goals to turn Los Blancos' season around.

Paul Macdonald