Real Madrid to decide whether to make a move for Hibs' Steven Fletcher

Jun 8 2008 Exclusive by Gavin Berry

REAL MADRID are set to finally take a decision this week on whether to make a move for Steven Fletcher.

The Spanish champions' top brass will gather at a Bernabeu summit to discuss all their signing targets.

Top of the agenda are possible big-money swoops for Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba and a loan deal to send Robinho away from Madrid.

But chiefs will also go over a list of promising kids that includes Hibs and Scotland starlet Fletcher.

Chief scout Julen Lopetegui said: "We have watched many young players this season and one is Fletcher but the work of the scouts is now finished and the final decision lies with others."

Despite Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen's attempt to laugh off Real's interest, Lopetegui's comment confirms Fletch has been on their radar for some considerable time.

Last week the Easter Road boss insisted he would not waste his time commenting on the situation.

Real Madrid have also sent a representative to meet Fletcher's agent Scott Fisher on three occasions and have instructed an agency to send videos of his games to Spain.

The Spanish club's former talent spotter Jeff Vetere first brought Fletcher to the club's attention.

Lopetegui and his assistant Rafael Monfort kept up the watch after Vetere moved to become Newcastle United's technical director.

That in turn has led to talk in Spain of interest in Fletcher from the Premiership side.

The decision now lies in the hands of Real board members and management.

Club president Ramon Calderon and sporting director Pedja Mijatovic and his assistant Miguel Angel Portugal will attend the signing showdown.

They will be joined on the football side by manager Bernd Schuster and other members of the technical staff.

If Real snap up the highly rated young Scot their plan is to loan him out as they've done with several promising talents in the recent past.

Currently they have Javi Garcia at Osasuna and Esteban Granero and Ruben De La Red with Getafe.

In the past names such as Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Portillo and Vicente Del Bosque were all farmed out.