Primera Liga

Real Madrid are preparing to lodge a bid for Valencia's star striker David Villa, according to Robinho’s agent.

The Spanish international, who enjoyed a prolific Euro 2008 campaign with four goals, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation ever since the conclusion of the tournament.

Villa’s transfer fiasco looked set to be over when his agent, José Luis Tamargo, held preliminary talks with Los Che over a new deal and even said that his client would stay at the Mestalla.

However, Valencia’s hopes of a quick conclusion to negotiations have been dashed as Real have now entered the fray for the 27-year-old after failing to prise Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford.

Robinho’s agent, Wagner Ribeiro, said: "I say that it is true that Real Madrid are trying to sign David Villa.”

Despite Real’s well-known interest in the sharpshooter, the Bernabeu outfit have never made their interest concrete with a bid.

New Valencia incumbent Unai Emery is confident that Villa would carry on with Valencia next season but Los Merengues’ interest in the player could now throw a spanner into the works, especially if Real president Ramón Calderón offers the US$100 million bounty that Valencia have placed on Villa’s head.