Less than a week after their hammering in El Clasico, Real Madrid's squad clearout has begun to gain traction, with Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard among eight players primed for a summer exit.
Carlo Ancelotti's side remain top of La Liga and well on track to reclaim the title after missing out to neighbours Atletico last season by a two-point margin. They're also into the last eight of the Champions League after coming from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain, with Chelsea awaiting them in the next round.
However, a Clasico setback rarely counts for nothing, especially when it's by a four goal margin in front of your own fans. There were mitigating circumstances, not least the absence of injured top scorer Karim Benzema, but the days since the game have seen plenty of noise being made about the future of one third of Los Blancos' current squad.
Between them, the eight outgoing players set Real Madrid back more than £200m when they arrived at the Bernabeu. The group, as reported by AS, includes three men out of contract this summer and five more who have been used sparingly by Ancelotti.
It is no surprise to see Bale on the way out. The Welshman has seen his game time decrease dramatically in recent years, and even his match-winning display in the 2018 Champions League, let alone his contribution in 2014, feels like a lifetime away.
Club captain Marcelo is also on his way out, having spent more than a decade in the Spanish capital, while Isco is also expected to move to pastures new. However, Luka Modric - the fourth man out of contract in June - has been tipped to extend his stay for another year.
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Upon learning Benzema would miss the Clasico, Ancelotti said "Bale is an alternative to Benzema, as is Mariano, Jovic, Isco and Rodrygo". While Bale's absence was injury-related, the fact that neither Mariano nor Jovic started the game feels fairly instructive.
"The two forwards do not count for Ancelotti," is how the situation concerning Mariano and Jovic is described in the AS report. The former at least played 45 minutes in the Clasico, but Jovic's move from Eintracht Frankfurt has fallen flat and Los Blancos are expected to listen to offers for a man who set them back more than £50m in 2019.
The Serbian striker has just three La Liga goals to his name, and spent part of last season back on loan at his former club. He was reportedly offered to Premier League sides in January, and it remains unclear whether there is likely to be appetite for a permanent exit or whether he will leave on loan again.
One man who has previously spent time in England is Dani Ceballos, and the former Arsenal loanee is also considered surplus to requirements. Two spells in north London weren't enough to earn the former Real Betis man a permanent move, and the Gunners are doing just fine without him.
Ceballos missed the first few months of the season through injury, but has yet to start a single game since returning to action in January. His situation is not too dissimilar to that facing Jesus Vallejo, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee who - like his colleague - turned 25 this season.
The final man on the list of outgoings is Hazard, who arrived with plenty of fanfare when moving to the Bernabeu from Chelsea in 2019. Injuries and fitness issues have limited the Belgian to fewer than 30 league starts in nearly three seasons, with a fan poll seeing him named Real Madrid's worst ever signing.
Hazard won't fetch anything close to the £89m Madrid paid for him off the back of Europa League glory. However, after a nightmare few years, they appear to have decided the time has come to cut their losses.
