Daniele De Rossi has emerged as a key target for Real Madrid.

The Italian international is rated as one of the best midfield players in European football, and it is believed Real enquired about his services during the summer.

A fee of €40million scared even the free-spending Spaniards off at the time, but AS claim they could engineer a move for the 26-year-old Roma star at the end of the season.

It is being suggested that current midfield duo Mahamadou Diarra and Fernando Gago will be offloaded from the Los Blancos squad to make way for De Rossi.

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