6 players Real Madrid should offload urgently before the transfer window closes

#2 James Rodriguez

Bayern Munich did not make Rodriguez; loan permanent

It would not be wrong to suggest that James Rodriguez has failed to match the lofty expectations of him when he signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2014.

Back then, having just starred at the World Cup, a 23-year-old James Rodriguez was a king with the world at his feet, and there was no kingdom more royal than perhaps the most royal of them all to act as the pedestal through which he could conquer the world.

However, his sojourn at Real Madrid did not exactly go to plan, as just two seasons into his spell, he lost his starting spot and was shipped out on a two-year loan to Bayern Munich a year later.

At Bayern, things initially looked bright for him under the management of Carlo Ancelotti and there were loud whispers that the move would be made permanent, but the Italian's sack and subsequent replacement with Niko Kovac spoiled the party, as James Rodriguez and the 47-year-old did not get along.

This prompted a return to Real Madrid and with Zidane seemingly not a fan of the Colombian international, it is all but certain that he has no future at Real Madrid.

The fact that James has just one year left on his current Real Madrid contract makes selling him a priority for Los Blancos rather than losing him for free next season. A reunion with Ancelotti at Napoli has been mooted, while Atletico Madrid are also supposedly interested.