Patience with Fabio Coentrao has finally run out at Real Madrid, sending the LaLiga leaders into a summer pursuit of a fresh full-back.
Having made just three appearances and spending more time in the gym than among the squad's full training sessions, the Portuguese left-back is to be dispensed with after six years of unfulfilled hope at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
In his place needs to come a player happy to sit behind Marcelo in the pecking order who is not too expensive and preferably homegrown.
One such option is Yuri Berchiche, as also reported by OKdiario. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a fine season at Real Sociedad having cut his teeth at Real Union and Eibar, and is very much admired by the Madrid hierarchy.
Another left-back being considered by Real is Aaron Martin, Espanyol's teenage defender who has been part of the Catalan club's admirable rise up the league table this season.
Like Yuri, the 19-year-old has a 30 million euro release clause stipulated in his contract having recently signed on until 2022, with the figure rising to 40m euros in 2018.
Manchester City are also said to be on Martin's trail as Real hone in on the first of their major transfer targets for the expectedly busy summer window ahead.
