Real Madrid 'are ready to make fresh bid for Reece James this summer if Chelsea are forced to sell to balance the books'... with Spanish giants believing the England defender 'could be available for just £44m'

Real Madrid are ready to make a fresh bid to sign Reece James if Chelsea are forced to sell players this summer.

The Spanish giants are long-time admirers of the England right back and reportedly made an approach to sign him 12 months ago.

However, the 23-year-old committed his future to the Blues by signing a new long-term deal at Stamford Bridge until 2028.

Real Madrid believe that James could be an option if Chelsea need to balance the books following their £600million splurge on new players.

And James could be available for just €50m (£44m), according to Marca.

Real Madrid are prepared to wait to sign a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal, 31,

And their interest has not been lessened by James enduring a chastening experience in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat.

The reigning European champions hardly had to get out of second gear as they eased to a 2-0 quarter-final first leg victory courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and substitute Marco Asensio.

James struggled to exert any influence on the game as an attacking force and was given a torrid time by Real’s quicksilver winger Vinicius Junior who had the beating of his opponent on numerous occasions.

Rio Ferdinand urged James to ‘prove he belongs’ at the top tier of European football.

He told BT Sport: ‘The important thing is he has to take that personally. As a defender there’s pride and you know everyone is watching.

‘There’s millions watching, let alone in this stadium. You go home and you analyse your performance. You get in there with the analysts and say give me my clips I want to see exactly what happened, where did I see the points where I got it wrong today?

‘What was my approach? Did I soften my knees on my approach, was I going in too upright, was I going in too quick and not putting the breaks on.

‘Go through it with a fine tooth comb. Then it’s about me vs you next week, gaffer make sure I’m one vs one with him and I’m going to prove to the world I can deal with people at this level because that’s what it’s about.’

Chelsea’s interim manager Frank Lampard selected a back five in an attempt to contain the threat of the in-form Brazil international and conceded the 22-year-old would present a problem for any defender in world football.