Real Madrid are on the brink of signing Real Sociedad defender Alvaro Odriozola in a deal worth €40m (£35.3m), claims AS.
The European champions have stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old in the wake of Spain’s early elimination from the 2018 World Cup.
Talks have entered the final stage and now Madrid are trying to work out a payment structure with their Spanish rivals before completing a deal for the right-back.
Julen Lopetegui picked Odriozola in his 23-man Spain squad for the World Cup ahead of Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin before being sacked on the eve of the tournament.
Odriozola was expected to deputise for the injured Dani Carvajal in Spain’s first match but Lopetegui’s replacement, Fernando Hierro, opted to play Nacho, even though he is naturally a centre-back.
The arrival of the Sociedad defender will only increase the likelihood that 19-year-old Achraf Hakimi will leave Madrid this summer, although it’s unclear whether they will be on loan or permanently.
Odriozola made 35 league appearances for Sociedad last season and there is a fear that his career will stagnate at Madrid, like Dani Ceballos’ and Marco Asensio’s did last season under Zinedine Zidane.
