Real Madrid are reportedly facing the possibility of losing Sergio Ramos on a free transfer this summer in order to pay the remaining year of Gareth Bale's salary.
The Spanish club's finances have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, and it is understood that club captain Ramos has rejected two separate offers from Los Blancos as he is not prepared to accept a pay cut.
According to AS, the financial issues caused by the ongoing pandemic mean that Zinedine Zidane's side cannot afford to meet Ramos's salary demands, and Bale's lucrative contract at the Bernabeu, which runs until June 2022, means that the club might not be able to retain their captain.
Bale is currently on loan with Tottenham Hotspur, but the Wales international has struggled to make his mark on his return to the Premier League and appears certain to head back to Madrid this summer.
The report notes that the 31-year-old and Ramos are the two highest earners at the Bernabeu in terms of wages, and the former is allegedly not prepared to accept a reduction to move elsewhere.
Ramos is allegedly being monitored by a number of clubs ahead of a potential free transfer.
