Real Madrid End Bale Interest, Target Manchester City Star - Report

Real Madrid have set their sights on securing Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero after ending their interest in Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, following the north London club's £70m valuation of the player, according to the Metro. Aguero has always been a huge admirer of the Spanish club and is expected to jump at the opportunity to return to Spain with the champions.

Aguero has been a major influence for City since his transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2011, scoring 30 goals from 39 starts in his debut season. However, the player has failed to scale the same heights this season, mostly due to his tryst with injuries, which kept him out of the squad for an extended period of time.

The Argentine has managed only 18 starts in the Premier League this season, scoring nine goals and assisting two. Aguero's absence was a major factor behind Manchester City's downfall this season, with the defending champions currently 15 points behind league leaders Manchester United.

Real have earmarked the 24-year-old as a replacement for his compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Tottenham. Aguero is expected to cost Real Madrid above £40m with the player having commanded a transfer fee of £38m when he moved from Atletico two years back.

Hart: United are a Killing Machine

Manchester City stopper Joe Hart has branded rivals Manchester United as a "killing machine" as the holders struggle to eradicate the Red Devils' 15-point lead at the top, with only nine games to go this season.

"We've done well but we've been up against a killing machine that have kept turning out results no matter what. Maybe we've drawn more than we would have liked to. It has not been a perfect season and it needs to be pretty perfect to win this league," Hart said.

"It's a tough league, it's hard to win games. Unfortunately when we do lose, United stretch that lead and it has been disappointing but we'll keep going. We worked so hard to get that title we are never going to just give it away. I'd imagine from the outside it looks that way but that's just not the case," the England No. 1 added.