HALA MADRID: James back to training; Chelsea 'offer £44.4m for Isco'

Hello Merengues, we bring you all-important Real Madrid news in the past 24 hours. Hala Madrid!

TEAM NEWS & RUMOURS

James trains with group for the second day in a row

Madrid players continued their preparations for Sunday's visit of Athletic Club in what will be their final match of 2019, with Zidane able to call upon James in his training session for the second day in a row.

Hazard among 5 Madrid players in top 10 for La Liga market value update

And there are five Madrid players in the top 10 including Hazard, Vinicius, Bale, Jovic and Asensio.

Chelsea 'offer £44.4m for Isco'

According to El Desmarque that Chelsea have made a £44.4 million offer for Isco.

He is the type of creative attacking player though that Lampard would probably like to add to his squad in January, with that area on the pitch being one he is currently surveying.

The current market value of Isco is €50m

So many EPL clubs want to sign Vinicius

Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves all want to sign Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, report El Desmarque.

Madrid contact Marquinhos

Madrid contact the representatives of PSG centre-back Marquinhos to discuss a potential move, according to a report.

The 25-year-old has made 268 appearances for PSG in all competitions since arriving from Roma in 2013, winning five Ligue 1 titles during his time in the French capital.

A big moment for Fede Valverde

There is a saying that one's happiness at work is accompanied by great personal moments and that is the case with Valverde, who is expecting the birth of his first child in February.

VOICE

Luca Zidane: I want to succeed

"I want to be successful because of my work, not for anything else.

"I want to succeed because of me and not because I'm someone's son."

'Zidane is the best coach Madrid could have'

Rafa Alkorta, Athletic Club's sporting director, believes that Zidane is the best coach Madrid could have in charge.

Matic: Hazard's only problem is that he's such a nice guy

"He's so nice and he will take some more time to adapt.

"At Madrid, if you don't score in the first two, three games... if you don't score or play well, they criticise you a lot.

"The pressure is big, but he also had an injury, but I'm sure in the next five, six months and next season he will be again one of the best players in the world."

IN-DEPTHS

The Fede Formula

How Zidane created an environment for Valverde to thrive: Read the full article. >>

Madrid feel reassured by performance in El Clasico

 Madrid's Clasico satisfaction could only be at a higher level had all three points been gathered, but there are no more doubts that Los Blancos have recovered their former level. Read the full article. >>

Madrid's magnificent five in El Clasico

Their impressive performance in Catalonia came, above all, because of how Zidane's midfield imposed themselves on their counterparts. Read the full article. >>

MATCHDAY(CET)