Chelsea and Manchester United target refuses to sign contract extension amid interest from Premier League duo

Real Madrid reinforced their status as one of Europe’s best clubs on Tuesday with a convincing 3-1 victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final. 

Madrid have struggled domestically this term and currently sit third with just nine games remaining.

This summer promises to be a significant one for Zinedine Zidane’s side, with the future of a number of players and even the manager himself under varying degrees of doubt.

Gareth Bale and Martin Odegaard, who are on loan at the white and red halves of North London respectively, will both return to the Spanish capital as things stand, whilst Vinicius Jr, Marco Asensio and Sergio Ramos have all been linked with a departure from the Bernabeu this summer.

Perhaps the most likely of all to depart this summer, however, is Lucas Vazquez, who has been heavily linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United.

According to The Sun, the player is now refusing to enter into negotiations over an extension to his current Madrid deal, amid ongoing speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.

Vazquez has scored twice in 23 La Liga games this season.

The 29-year-old started at right-back against Liverpool in midweek, but can be used as a wing-back, or in a more advanced role as a winger.

When asked about his future after the win over Liverpool, Vazquez did little to deter talk about a potential move, instead fuelling speculation.

“Now what I focus on is the present,” he said.

“I am enjoying this year with minutes, I feel comfortable playing and that is what makes me happy.

I was always from Madrid and I will always be from Madrid.”

Vazquez’s refusal to commit his future to his current employers will do little in the way of calming speculation and, with just a matter of weeks until the window opens once again, this could be one of the most high profile transfer sagas of the summer.