James: Real Madrid to seek at least 50m if Bayern don't buy him
If Bayern opt against taking up a 42m-euro purchase option on James Rodríguez, Madrid will look to sell him for more elsewhere, says El Confidencial.
It seems increasingly improbable that James Rodríguez will be back at the Bernabéu next season. The Real Madrid midfielder, who is currently on a two-year loan at German champions Bayern Munich, has frequently suggested that he is keen to return to his parent club this summer, but Zinedine Zidane's re-appointment as Los Blancos' coach looks to have made that an unlikely eventuality.
Bayern have option to buy James at end of loan
What's more, the Colombian international's future also depends on whether or not Bayern decide to take up the 42-million-euro purchase option they have on him.
Should Bayern opt against making James' stay permanent, reports the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, Madrid will seek to raise transfer funds by finding another buyer - and slapping a higher price tag on the 27-year-old. Club president Florentino Pérez is also planning to bring in revenue by selling Mateo Kovacic, who is presently on loan at Premier League club Chelsea.
"Bayern have paid Real Madrid 6.5 million euros a year for each season [that James has been on loan in Munich], and if they want to keep him they will have to activate a purchase clause set at 42 million euros," El Confidencial said on Thursday. "If Bayern finally decide not to keep the player, Madrid will put him on the market for 60 million euros, an initial asking price that they won't drop any lower than 50."
Bayern must make James decision by mid-June
Bayern have until 15 June to make a decision on James, with the club's CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, last week indicating that the Bavarians' intention is to hold on to the former Monaco, Porto and Banfield player.