Real Madrid transfer news: Carlo Ancelotti, Florentino Perez agree to sell defender in January

Los Blancos are looking to defend their La Liga title and Champions League trophy this campaign with Carlo Ancelotti having also signed a new contract.

However, the legendary manager faces a far tougher battle to win the former with Real already sitting four points adrift of leaders Barcelona in the standings.

As well as their fierce rivals recording seven successive victories, Real have been held to disappointing draws with Mallorca and Las Palmas.

Nevertheless, it is a performance in the 3-2 win over Alaves earlier this week that has encouraged Ancelotti and president Florentino Perez to finally part ways with a long-serving defender.

Patience lost in Vallejo

According to Madrid Universal, Ancelotti and Perez each want to find a new club for Jesus Vallejo during the January transfer window.

With Real 3-0 up in the aforementioned game with Alaves, the 27-year-old was introduced as an 80th-minute substitute, the assumption being that the team would comfortably see out the contest.

Instead, within seven minutes of Vallejo's introduction, Alaves had reduced the deficit to 3-2, Real eventually hanging on to seal an important three points.

Vallejo was making his first appearance of the season and the report suggests that it is highly likely to be his last for the Spanish giants.

Real are either prepared to accept a cut-price fee or even allow Vallejo to leave on a free transfer if that is the only proposal that they can attract.

That is a result of Vallejo's contract being due to expire at the end of the season, with any chance of a renewal now off the table.

The ultimate club man

Vallejo has been at the Bernabeu since making the switch from Real Zaragoza in 2015, the initial hope being that he would become a regular as the seasons passed by.

However, just 32 outings have been made across a nine-year stretch, Vallejo never playing more than seven games in a single La Liga season.

Loan spells have been spent at the likes of Zaragoza, Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Granada, but Vallejo has reached the age of 27 with just 173 appearances in senior football.

He has been prepared to provide backup at Real whenever required, yet he is now in a position to contemplate his options for the next phase of his career.