Real Madrid set to table bid for Gabriel Heinze

Newly elected Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is likely to be a busy bunny in what promises to be a frenetic transfer window leading up to the start of the 2006/2007 season, as he bids to keep the exacting Bernabeu faithful happy. It has been well documented that Real have been keen to prize Portugal playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo away from Man Utd but it has also emerged that the Spanish giants are keen to secure the services of another Old Trafford based player, defender Gabriel Heinze, for whom they are reported to be preparing a £10million bid. This figure would represent a handsome return for Sir Alex Ferguson who landed the player for a £6.9million fee from PSG in the Summer of 2004. However, with Chelsea augmenting their attacking capabilities via the purchases of Michael Ballack and Andriy Schevchenko, Ferguson is unlikely to be receptive to the idea of selling the Argentinean, who missed most of the last season through injury but had looked a more than worthwhile acquisition in his first season for the club. Real Madrid's new coach Fabio Capello is said to be close to securing a deal for Frank Ribery, who has emerged as a huge talent during France's World Cup campaign. It had been reported that Arsenal were on the verge of gaining the Marseille man's signature, but Capello's £26million plunge looks to have thwarted Wenger's comparatively paltry £10million bid. This will be seen as a bit of recompense for Real, as they had the door firmly closed on them when making enquiries about Arsenal's hugely talented Spanish midfielder, Cesc Fabregas. It has also been reported that Real attempted to lure Deco away from Barcelona but the Portugal midfielder is said to have turned them down. Barca are hot favourites to maintain their status as Primera Liga champions in the forthcoming season - they are 13/20 market leaders with both Sporting Odds - with Real a top-priced with Blue Square and Valencia at 10/1 with Ladbrokes