May 3, 2008 12:04 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Madrid Launch Quaresma Offensive

Reports in the Portuguese press suggest that Real Madrid are readying a cash plus player deal for FC Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma, a previous target of their city rivals Atlético.

Portuguese daily 'Diario de Noticias' reports that Madrid will offer €25million for the twenty-three year old winger alongside an unspecified player, rumoured to be striker Roberto Soldado, who is valued at €12million.

Madrid were interested in signing Quaresma last season, but baulked at the price requested by Porto president Nuno Pinto da Costa and instead opted to sign Arjen Robben from Chelsea instead, but the feeling within the club is that they need another wide-man and it looks like they will re-kindle their interest in Quaresma.

Porto have promised Quaresma that they will listen to any offers that come in for his services over the summer and although they are looking for a fee in the region of €40million, Madrid's offer of player plus cash may just tempt them into a negotiation.

Whether or not Soldado will be the pawn in the deal is open to conjecture, especially as Porto already have a free-scoring target man in Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez. Unless Lopez is also set to leave before next season, it is unlikely Soldado will be the player exchanged, although Madrid have a number of young players returning to the club - such as Esteban Granero, Ruben de la Red and Javi Garcia - that would surely interest Porto if a deal is to be done.