Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract renewal isn’t the only one Real Madrid have been working towards in recent months to ensure the club keep hold of their best players. And with a FIFA sanction set to stop the team from making any signings for two successive transfer windows, it’s perfectly understandable that Real want to do everything they can to bolster from within. At the top of that priority list are Bale, Isco, Pepe and Jesé.

Bale to extend till 2021

Full screen Bale and Isco at Real Madrid's Undecima celebrations Javier Lizón (EFE)

The case for each player is different. Gareth Bale and his agent (Jonathan Barnett) have already started negotiations and the wheels are now well in motion. The Welshman’s contract will end in June 2019 but all parties are expected to agree to a two year extension with an annual rise in salary from €9 million to €10 million. This would see Bale overtake Sergio Ramos as the club’s second most well paid player, trailing only Ronaldo.

Full screen Jesé celebrates a goal

Jesé decision

Jesé’s situation is a little more urgent to resolve. The Canary Islander signed a contract until 2017 back in 2013. From January the player will be able to enter negotiations with other teams and would be available on a free transfer from June next year. Madrid evidently don’t want this to happen, leaving two options. If Zidane decides to keep holder of Jesé, then he would be offered a new deal this summer. The other possibility is that the 23 year old is deemed surplus to requirements and Los Blancos offload him, although likely with a buyback clause as has been the case with Morata and Carvajal.

Pepe and Isco wait for talks

Pepe’s contract also runs out in 2017, by which time he’ll be 34. The defender wants to stay, - but seeing as he’s not getting any younger – he’ll almost certainly have to wait a little while to see what Real offer.

Isco is the final candidate for renewal – and one which looks significantly more probable after Zinedine Zidane’s comments earlier this week (“Isco’s not going anywhere”). The playmaker has already expressed his desire to continue at Real, and will be waiting eagerly for their call.