Real Madrid will finalise a deal with Benfica for left-back Fabio Coentrao in the next few days, Spanish news daily Marca claims.
The Spanish giants have been strongly linked with Coentrao since the end of last season, with the player himself making no secret of his wish to work under compatriot Jose Mourinho.
The two clubs have been locked in talks over the last weeks about the transfer fee, as Madrid are unwilling to meet the €30m release clause attached to Coentrao's contract, which expires in 2016.
Spanish sources have suggested that Madrid do want want to pay more than €25 million for Coentrao and are willing to include defender Ezequiel Garay as makeweight in a bid to convince Benfica to part company with the gifted full-back.
In addition to Garay, Marca today reports the Spanish side may throw another player into the deal, with midfielder Pablo Sarabia believed to be a preferred target of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus.
It has also been said that Benfica have dispatched scouts to check on Sarabia on a number of occasions throughout the last two seasons, and the inclusion of the 19-year-old in the deal may lead negotiations for Coentrao to a successful end next week.
