Real Madrid to ‘offload Bale and James Rodriguez’ as part of huge clear-out to slash £66m off wage bill

REAL MADRID are willing to sell Gareth Bale and James Rodriquez in order to lighten their wage bill.

According to Spanish media outlet AS, the club are ready to part ways with the duo who have been placed on the sidelines for a while now.

Colombian Rodriguez was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich while Welshman Bale almost made a move to the CSL

For some time, the pair have been out of the picture, falling out of favour with Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane.

The Colombian was sent out on loan to German giant Bayern Munich, while the Welshman was on the verge of signing a deal with a Chinese Super League side before the club’s president pulled the plug.

Rodriguez flourished in the German League, even admitting he wanted to remain there.

Real Madrid are wiling to sell Gareth Bale to lighten wage billCredit: PA:Press Association

Premier League side Everton are interested in brining Bale back to England, and although transfer costs will no doubt be cut down in light of the coronavirus outbreak, they know that the Spanish giants will still demand a high enough price.

Bale’s current contract does not come to an end until 2022.

Rodriguez on the other hand only has one year left and it is likely that he could be signed for a fraction of what Real paid for him after the 2014 World Cup.

Zidane has been on having a complete team overhaul as he hopes to get his side ready to challenge for the Champions League.

Things have not been going as the Spaniard would have liked, since they got their third consecutive European title in 2018.

One player who could be brought in while Bale and Roriguez are sent out, is Paul Pogba.

The Manchester United star has been out of favor at Old Trafford and is rumored to be leaving this summer, with the likes of Jack Grealish as a replacement according to recent reports.

Pogba among the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s teen sensation Erling Haaland, is all part of freshening things up for Real come the summer.

But first, the task of letting two expensive players go.

Bale currently earns around £600,000-per-week at Los Blancos, after tax.

But if Zidane thinks he is going to let Bale go for cheap, he can rethink as Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, spoke to AS on the matter, saying: ”Gareth loves Madrid and the city, his history at Real will end with another Champions and perhaps another contract.”

Since returning from their loan spells, the Wales star has made just 11 La Liga starts this term, scoring twice.

His teammate upon returning from Bayern, has only made two starts.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk