Real Madrid to sign Deportivo youngster Noel Lopez | OneFootball

Deportivo La Coruna have confirmed that they have struck a deal to sell 19-year-old forward Noel Lopez to Real Madrid.

Noel made his breakthrough to the senior Deportivo side this season and ended the campaign with 28 appearances, ten starts and four goals in Spain's third tier, with the young striker seen as the stand-out talent of Deportivo's current crop of youngsters.

The lower league club tried to tie Noel down to a senior contract but could not strike a deal, with the player eventually confirming his desire to leave, and Real have swooped in to sign the young striker.

"Noel Lopez has put an end to his formative career at RC Deportivo to continue it at Real Madrid," a club statement read.

"Respecting the will of the player in the penultimate year of his amateur contract, both clubs have reached an agreement for the transfer of the footballer, in addition to agreeing on different variables which depend on how the Galician attacker's career develops in the future."

Real are expected to send Noel straight to the Castilla side but he could be given minutes in the first team if Carlo Ancelotti loses the majority of his striker options.

Mariano Diaz is understood to have asked for a transfer, and with Luka Jovic and Borja Mayoral both angling for an exit as well, Ancelotti could be left with Karim Benzema as the only senior striker in his squad. Castilla striker Juanmi Latasa has been touted as a possible option for the first team, and now Noel could be used as well.