Raul Albiol looks set to join Malaga in January

Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol is close to agreeing a January move to ambitious Malaga, according to Radio Marca. The former Valencia man is reported to have reached an agreement to join the Andalusian club in January, with a three-year contract offered to the player. Albiol joined Madrid in 2009 for €15 million (£13m) and featured regularly at the club in his first season, playing under Manuel Pellegrini, who is now coach of Malaga. However, since the arrival of Jose Mourinho in 2010, the 26-year-old centre-half has often found himself on the bench, with the experienced Ricardo Carvalho coming into the team to partner compatriot, Pepe at the heart of defence. With next summer's European Championships on the horizon, Albiol is said to be keen to play more first-team football in the hope of earning a spot in Vicente Del Bosque's starting line-up for the tournament. Madrid and Mourinho are yet to sanction the proposed move with Malaga hopeful of concluding a deal before the January transfer window opens. Since Qatari investment last summer, Malaga have secured a number of high profile transfers with Santi Cazorla, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan, Joaquin and Joris Mathijsen just some of the names to join the ambitious club.