Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi is pushing to join Real Madrid.

The Argentina international is unsettled at City and believes he has little future under manager Pep Guardiola.

Don Balon says Otamendi's minders first made contact with Real in March and now negotiations have stepped up.

It's been suggested to Real directors that Otamendi would be an ideal replacement for the departing Pepe.

Real are open to the prospect, having tried for the defender while he was with Valencia.