Media confident of Real signing Robben, Ballack and Drenthe

Aug 6, 2007, 11:27 GMT

Madrid - Madrid sports newspapers AS and Marca were very confident on Monday about Real Madrid finally signing Arjen Robben, Michael Ballack and Royston Drenthe.

According to the digital version of AS, Real president Ramon Calderon is determined to sign all three players 'within 48 hours', so they can play in the Spanish Supercup on Sunday against cup winners Sevilla.

AS claims that Chelsea will accept 40 million euros (55.12 million dollars) for Ballack and Robben, though rival daily Marca believes that the Londoners will not settle for less than 45 million euros (62.01 million dollars), and that they will spend this money on buying right-back Daniel Alves from Sevilla.

AS says that the 'good news' is that Ballack will accept a reduction of his eight-million euro Chelsea salary to join Real, on a three-year deal, whilst Marca puts a positive interpretation on the fact that neither Ballack nor Robben played for Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield showpiece against Manchester United.

With regard to Drenthe, both sports papers are confident that Feyenoord will reduced their original 18-million euro asking price for the 20 year-old left-back.