Real Madrid to wrap up another signing! Spanish giants and Benfica in talks over €50m Alvaro Carreras deal as Xabi Alonso gives green light after sealing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen transfers

Benfica will not let the left-back go for less than €40 million (£34m/$45m), but are pushing for a fee closer to €50m (£42m/$56m) from this season's La Liga runners-up, with talks currently underway according to AS. The deal has not yet gone through because it is being closely scrutinised by the club's fans, with president Rui Costa under pressure, the report adds.

Benfica signed Carreras from Manchester United for just €6m last year and it was claimed Madrid considered asking the Red Devils to activate their €18m (£15m/$20m) buy-back option so that they could then purchase him at a more agreeable fee. In the end, Madrid opted to negotiate with Benfica directly, though they must still wait on United to give the Eagles the green light to sell him.

Xabi Alonso is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti as head coach at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and the former midfielder has already given his approval for the Carreras deal. The 22-year-old is the kind of left-back Alonso wants so that he can play his preferred system. With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen already on the way to the Spanish capital, they will have a much-changed defence next season.

It seems only a matter of time before Madrid confirm the return of Carreras, who spent three years in the club's youth system before joining United in 2020.