Real Madrid Paths cross over four players specifically

As has happened with Gabriel Jesus, Real Madrid have discovered the main obstacle between them signing the game's brightest young talents is Pep Guardiola.

Not only is the Catalan coach competing to secure the services of rising stars, but he also has 'feelers' out for players currently under contract with Los Blancos, like Toni Kroos.

Gabriel Jesus: one phonecall was enough

Manchester City will pay 32 million euros to sign Gabriel Jesus and the player will move to England in January.

The Brazilian was on Real's shopping list for the future, but Guardiola moved quicker and spent more than an hour on the phone to the player to convince him to opt for Manchester over Madrid.

Sane: pending a deal between City and Schalke

Another youngster that Madrid had pencilled in, but again it will be Guardiola who gets to add Leroy Sane to his team sheet, either this season or next.

The deal has stalled with Schalke demanding 50 million euros, but the player has already agreed in principal to sign for City in 2017 should the clubs be unable to cut a deal this summer, when the transfer fee would drop to 34 million.

Kroos: Guardiola's dream signing

Not a young talent, here we are talking about one of the greatest talents in the game, and Toni Kroos is exactly what Guardiola sees as the missing piece to bolster his Manchester City midfield.

He has up to 60 million euros to tempt Madrid into a deal, but the player himself is not convinced and much less is the club, who have declared him not for sale at any price.

Odegaard: the young Norwegian still in his sights

Real Madrid snapped up perhaps the most sought after youngster of the decade in January 2015, Guardiola thwarted despite having done everything he could to sign him, even promising playing time in the Bayern first team.

He has not forgotten and would still love to get the teenager if he became available.