PAPER TALK: Keeping you up to date with all the transfer rumours, headlines and gossip from the Spanish football press…

According to a report in Marca today, Real Madrid have decided to terminate their pursuit of the Wigan player Luis Antonio Valencia – because Manchester United have persuaded the player to move to Old Trafford in the summer instead…

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Juande Ramos had identified Luis Antonio Valencia as a January transfer target and the Wigan player was a priority as far as the new Real Madrid coach is concerned. However, the situation at the Bernabeu has changed dramatically over the course of the last few weeks and, following the resignation of Ramon Calderon, Juande Ramos has been told he must abandon any plans to spend any sizeable amount on transfers.

There will be elections at the Bernabeu in the summer and, in light of the recent scandal involving the approval of the club’s accounts, the current board feel that they cannot legitimately spend significant sums of money on new deals this month.  Marca believes that Wigan are holding out for at least €19.5 million for Luis Antonio Valencia and that, in light of the situation at the Bernabeu, Madrid are only able to enter in to a loan agreement with Valencia. This, as Marca concedes, holds little appeal for Wigan who are highly unlikely to accept such an offer.

As a consequence, Marca reports that Real Madrid will make an approach to sign Ibrahim Yattara on loan from Trabzonspor for the rest of the season. The paper believes that with any move for Valencia now out of the question, the 28-year-old Guinea international is a suitable, and realistic, alternative.

However, there is a twist in the tail of this particular transfer saga and Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted to learn that Marca believes the real reason Real Madrid's loan move for Valencia has fallen through is because Manchester United have told Wigan they will meet their valuation in full and sign Valencia in the summer.

Elsewhere, it had also been suggested that Javier Saviola could be used as part of a loan deal between Real Madrid and Wigan, but according to Marca today, the Argentine forward has been told that he will not be allowed to leave the Bernabeu this January – in spite of the fact that he does not seem to feature in Juande Ramos’ plans.

Marca is also reporting that Wigan are close to agreeing a deal with Malaga for the 25 year old left sided midfielder Eliseu. The Portuguese wide player has been catching the eye of several Premiership clubs this season with his lightning quick attacking play and, according to Marca, the talks with Wigan are at an advanced stage.

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 Paper Talk is a response to readers requests for updates from the Spanish football press and does not reflect the views of Guillem Balague. To hear what Guillem has to say on the latest news from Spain, check out the The La Liga Podcast with Guillem Balague and Mark Pendergast
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