PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Real Madrid's injury crisis might be giving Zinedine Zidane a headache but the one player he is desperate to not be without for Barcelona plays in midfield.

Marca report that Real Madrid need to generate 200m euros to balance the books and avoid sanctions from UEFA's Financial Fair Play rulings after they spent 350m euros in the summer.

The Bernabeu outfit were one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer window, spending big to appease returning manager Zinedine Zidane ahead of the new season.

Real Madrid have long been interested in signing Manchester United's Paul Pogba. It is reported that Los Blancos could offer both Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in any deal.

PETE JENSON: The incredible efficiency of Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes helped Real Madrid sign off their Champions League group campaign with a 3-1 win over Club Brugges.

PETE JENSON AT THE NOU CAMP: Zinedine Zidane rued the hairline offside decision that cost Real Madrid victory against Barcelona. Gareth Bale had the ball in the net in the second half.

Coutinho, now on loan at Bayern Munich after struggling since his huge-money move to Barcelona, has seen his value slashed by a massive £60million according to Transfermarkt.

Gareth Bale has no intention of departing Real Madrid in the near future and even plans on having another full season in LaLiga, according to his agent.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has left winger Gareth Bale out of the 19-man squad that will face Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday, despite the Welshman training all week injury free.

Gareth Bale's agent has described the prospect of the Welshman leaving Real Madrid on loan this month as 'ridiculous' and insisted he will see out his Bernabeu contract.

Brahim Diaz - the former Manchester City forward who refuses to go out on loan - sent Real Madrid into the last-16 of the Spanish Cup with a brace after they suffered a scare.

Real Madrid used to be the club that most frequently broke the transfer record now they are the club who spend the most on what they believe will be the next big thing.

Zinedine Zidane has spoken of his hopes of winning the Copa del Rey after Real Madrid eased into the last 16 with a 3-1 victory at Unionistas de Salamanca.

With £85.3m from the sale of Gareth Bale burning a big hole in their pockets, Tottenham embarked on a crazy spending spree in the summer of 2013. But what became of their seven signings?

Reports emerged on Friday morning that Bale was in talks to return to Spurs but nothing will come of negotiations regarding the 30-year-old in this window.

OLIVER HOLT: Andy Holt, the owner of Accrington Stanley has accused big clubs of being like a boa constrictor, squeezing the life out of the teams in the lower leagues of English football.

Bale's (left) agent Jonathan Barnett (inset) insisted there was never any negotiations between Spurs and his client and that the Premier League outfit wouldn't be able to afford his wages.

Gareth Bale made a hasty exit while his team-mates were still playing in their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad on Thursday night. Zinedine Zidane's side crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the Bernebeu.

Gareth Bale is determined to see out the final two years of his Real Madrid contract, according to the player's agent Jonathan Barnett.

Gareth Bale's agent has defended his Welsh charge after Real Madrid fans were angered by the winger leaving the Bernabeu with 10 minutes to go during their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad. 

Zinedine Zidane says that Real Madrid will count on Gareth Bale during the final months of the season after the Welsh forward started in the 4-1 win at Osasuna on Sunday.

The Spanish giants are looking to sell Gareth Bale in the summer and are hoping they can replace the Welsh winger with one of Europe's top forwards as they look to rebuild their side.

The football season faces an uncertain future after the outbreak of the coronavirus, but Real Madrid appear to unperturbed as they make preparations for the summer.

Zidane is reported to have a fractious relationship with Bale and attempted to force him out the club last summer - something the player felt was 'professional abuse'.

Zinedine Zidane is looking to sell five of his Real Madrid stars in order to lay the foundations for a bold spree of signings as Los Blancos look to ring the changes this summer transfer window.

Real Madrid believe pay cuts for their highest earners will become 'inevitable' as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Zidane was openly willing to let the Welsh winger leave the Bernabeu in the summer and a move to the Chinese Super League almost came to fruition before it collapsed.

The Italian coach is keen to bridge his side's gap to the Premier League juggernauts and believes the Real Madrid outcasts are a step in the right direction. Los Blancos are willing to entertain offers.

According to Marca, boss Zinedine Zidane is keen to offload the pairing and will not prevent them from securing transfers. Both have struggled with poor form and injury woes this season.

Although Gareth Bale would likely draw a hefty sum, Real Madrid reportedly want to hang on to him for now as they make preparations for a season without a major acquisition.

EXCLUSIVE BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA: The latest graduate of Southampton's famed academy, Will Smallbone will not forget 2020 in a hurry after his dream, goal-scoring full debut in the FA Cup.

Comolli has claimed a select few of Europe's biggest clubs will be able to 'sweep the transfer market' this summer and buy some of the hottest prospects for heavily discounted fees.

I'm feeling a little bit tearful. It must be the time of year: almost Christmas, and being female we all want it to be perfect, when it's far from that

It wasn't quite an annus horribilis, as the Queen would say. Not like 2014. And 2015. And 2016. And, oh yes, 2017 and 2018

Some days, I should just never get out of bed. Take last Wednesday. I took delivery of a load of flagstones for the ground floor of my cottage...

You know I said last week that I wouldn't get angry? Want to know how that's going?

David brought me a pot of coffee in bed on Christmas morning. When I came downstairs, three small parcels were on my desk

I now have two engagement rings. Let me explain. The gold ring David gave me on Christmas Day wouldn't go over my knuckle so he insisted we go to a local jeweller to get it resized

On Friday afternoon I picked up my resized platinum and diamond engagement ring. I realise I'm the victim of several thousand years' worth of oppression because I keep admiring how it looks

Now that we are officially engaged, and with David wanting to talk things through in person, I suggested meeting at the organic pub in Islington

Oh dear. The platinum and diamond engagement ring has come off and is now sitting in its little box in my chest of drawers

Grrrr!!! Gahhhaaahhha! David went to see the flat in Notting Hill that I was thinking of renting, but not with any good grace, viz: 'I will view it for you, given you say I have no job.'

A strangely conflicted, confusing week. Having tried to return the engagement ring to the jeweller and failed, I texted David to try to make us work

Oh dear God. I have finally reached rock bottom. You thought it was bad when my husband cheated or I lost my home or David failed to take out the the trash?

I know I said last week that it's how nice you are inside that shows on your face. But as I contemplate flying to Sydney to meet the Hunk, I've been reconsidering that sentiment

I'm in Paris for the fashion shows. This isn't a sentence I thought I would ever write again, but two or three designers invited me.

You can tell a lot about someone's psyche by looking at their search history. Here's mine. On just one day, I searched 124 sites.

I've just realised that I should be loving being single. I am growing a beard.

Can you imagine. You have just had a row with your boyfriend, he has flounced out to drive back to London, and suddenly you are told you cannot leave your house?

I finally caved and sent David a light, friendly text. We should all be reaching out, shouldn't we?