Real Madrid 'join Mauricio Lemos race'

Real Madrid are ready to battle Barcelona for the signature of Las Palmas's in-demand defender Mauricio Lemos, according to the Canary Islanders' technical secretary Luis Helguera.

Lemos, 20, spent the second half of the 2015-16 season on loan at Las Palmas from Rubin Kazan, before joining the Spanish outfit on a permanent contract last month.

Barcelona reportedly made a £9m bid for the Uruguay Under-20 international in May, but that offer was rejected as Las Palmas hold out for his full release clause of £23m.

Helguera has confirmed that Barcelona did indeed launch an offer, in addition to revealing that Real Madrid "have asked" about the availability of the centre-back.

"Real Madrid have asked us about Lemos," Helguera told Onda Cero. "The reality is that a lot of clubs have [asked about him], but there's a difference between asking and making an offer.

"Barcelona have made an offer, after that, Real Madrid, as well as other clubs, have asked about him. But, as I said, asking and making an offer are different things - they don't have anything to do with each other."

Las Palmas are believed to have paid Rubin Kazan just shy of £2m to make the move permanent.