James Rodriguez is set to leave La Liga this summer, with Real Madrid happy for the Colombian international to move on after an unfulfilled five years at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rodriguez, 27, signed for Los Blancos ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, on the back of an outstanding performance at the World Cup two months before, however his face never seemed to fit at the club particularly under previous boss Zinedine Zidane.
Despite the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, he does not appear to be guaranteed a continued role in Bavaria either.
The attacking midfielder has shown glimpses of his capabilities, particularly during last season’s Bundesliga win, where he scored seven league goals in 26 starts – only bettered by Robert Lewandowski - in Jupp Heynckes’ final campaign.
However injuries and a change of tactical approach under new boss Niko Kovac in 2018-19, has seen just nine league starts and no goal since October 2018, for the former Monaco man.
Bayern club president Uli Hoeness was ambiguous when asked this week about their desire to bring Rodriguez in on a permanent deal,when his two year loan expires at the end of the season.
From there, he will be a free agent with his Real Madrid contract having expired, but as it stands neither club look outwardly keen to pick up his high wages and potentially inconsistent level of output.
Real Madrid are expected to push ahead with their pursuit of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in the summer, despite the Premier League side’s transfer ban, and they could offload more players to budget for the Belgian.
As well as Rodriguez, fan favourite Isco looks increasingly likely to move on, if Santiago Solari remains at the helm, with a Premier League move likely for the Spanish international should he
Left back Marcelo has been increasingly linked with a move to Juventus to join up with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, after falling behind Sergio Reguilon in the pecking order under Solari.
Solari will then have to make a decision on Theo Hernandez, who has endured a mixed season on loan at Real Sociedad, and Achraf Hakimi, who has excelled in Borussia Dortmund’s title push, in his own loan spell.
Hernandez would provide cover Reguilon, albeit with both players still lacking in experience, but Hakimi would come into direct competition with Alvaro Odriozola, as Dani Carvajal’s deputy.
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