Real Madrid Los Merengues want to sign goalkeeper in January

Ahead of the January transfer window, Real Madrid hope to strengthen their team and an agreement for Kepa Arrizabalaga is believed to be imminent.

The Spanish goalkeeper has been involved in a complex contract dispute with his current club for the best part of a year now, Athletic Club believed to having lost patience to make a move away for the Spaniard likely.

Florentino Perez has made an executive decision to add to the squad this winter and the Spanish stopper is set to be the first arrival.

Kepa's current contract runs until June 30 and usually the Basque club aren't afraid to let agreements run down; however the defending Spanish champions intend to pay his current 20 million euro buy-out clause.

Real intend to do this and not wait until the summer as they wish to secure the services of a goalkeeper who would only improve from here.

At just 23 years old, Kepa has a lot of football ahead of him and will likely be part of Julen Lopetegui's World Cup squad.

Keylor Navas has been an outstanding player for the Spanish giants but at 30 years old it's clear that he isn't considered the future.

Meanwhile, a sprained ankle will keep the Kepa out of action for the foreseeable future; he will not be present for the visit of Real Madrid on Saturday although this is hardly a disaster as the focus would have certainly been on the goalkeeper.

Multiple offers of a contract renewal have not been accepted by the Spanish international and once January 1 has passed he will be able to talk to foreign clubs about a free transfer in the summer.

Hence the hurry from Los Blancos, as it is clear that Zinedine Zidane wants the player to arrive as soon as people in order to help him settle in.