Real Madrid have placed an £18m price tag on Portuguese left-back Fabio Coentrão and TuttoMercatoWeb believes the Spanish champions will listen to offers in the summer. It is believed both Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in the 25-year-old, who signed in 2011 from Benfica, for approximately £26m.

Fabio Coentrao (R)
Reuters

The left-back has been on the Stamford Bridge club's radar for quite some time now and is expected to be a long-term replacement for 32-year-old England international Ashley Cole. The ex-Arsenal man recently signed a contract extension that ends in 2014.

In addition to the Reds and Roman Abramovich, English champions Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Coentrao, with speculation suggesting the Santiago Bernabeu club would use the defender to raise funds for a summer move for Tottenham star Gareth Bale. City already have Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov but the Serbian was attracting heavy attention from Serie A champions Juventus in the mid-season window and may yet leave the Etihad.

Coentrao has made only 14 La Liga appearances this season, managing a goal and an assist.He remains a firm second choice, for Jose Mourinho at least, to Brazilian Marcelo, on the left side of defence.

It was earlier reported the Portuguese had an argument with his compatriot, Mourinho, after failing to return to the club after the winter break in Spain. That apart, it may also be Coentrao's future at the Spanish capital is linked to the ex-Chelsea manager, who looks almost certain to leave in the summer.

Benitez on West Ham Fixture

Interim Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez wants his players to learn from their mistakes when they face West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Chelsea lost 3-1 at Upton Park and a similar result will jeopardise a top four finish and Champions League football next season.

"It was one of those games when you say you didn't win but still we did so well that we could have won in the first half. We have to be ready and prepare the team properly. With two days [between games] it is not easy but mental preparation may be the main thing," the ex-Liverpool manager told the club website.