REAL MADRID last night brought their galactic summer spending to almost €200m with an agreement in principle to pay €35m to Lyon for striker Karim Benzema. Lyon have accepted this bid and the player is now negotiating the terms of his transfer.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has left Real Madrid with a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Franck Ribery, but reiterated that it will take “something crazy” for them to consider a sale.