Rio de Janeiro, Nov 29 (IANS): Spanish football club Real Madrid are in talks to sign highly rated Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva in the January transfer window, according to media reports.
The Spanish club has offered 12 million euros for the 21-year-old, who is contracted to Brazil's Cruzeiro until 2017, reported Xinhua.
Silva could be given an immediate chance in Carlo Ancelotti's first team given the serious thigh injury suffered by Luka Modric and lingering fitness doubts over Sami Khedira.
The Brazil Under-21 international has been linked to a number of top European clubs in the past year, including Internazionale and Chelsea.
He is a key member of the Cruzeiro team that has won the past two Brazilian Serie A titles.