Report: Real has option for Quaresma

According to Portuguese news daily Diário de Notícias, Real Madrid has secured a preferential option for FC Porto midfielder Ricardo Quaresma.

The Portuguese international has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabéu, having even asked former teammate Pepe about life at the Spanish club.

Real Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic is said to be infatuated with the skills shown by "the Mustang," and has reportedly agreed terms with the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, over a preferential option for Quaresma.

According to the news daily, the 24-year-old's price is the only thing complicating the deal, as Real Madrid is set to make a $46 million offer for the player but Porto chairman Pinto da Costa seems unwilling to offload his star for less than $62 million.

It is said that Real Madrid dispatched a scout to watch Quaresma in action in Porto's Champions League game against Liverpool.

The highly rated winger formerly represented Barcelona before being sold back to Porto as part of the deal that took Deco to Camp Nou.