Real Madrid transfer ruling could have huge consequences for Premier League clubs

Real Madrid's appeal against their transfer ban has been successful.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have halved the one-year transfer ban originally imposed on Real Madrid. The original ban was handed down as the Madrid club were adjudged to have breached rules relating to the transfer of foreign players under the age of 18. The club had originally appealed the ban to FIFA, which was rejected, but have now successfully had the ban reduced from two windows to one. The ruling means that the club can now sign players in next summer's transfer window. Speculation will now be rife that Madrid's admirably open pursuit of Borussia Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will finally come to a successful conclusion next summer. This is likely to mean the end of Karim Benzema's eight-season stint with one of the world's most decorated clubs. Manchester United have been heavily linked with Benzema ever since Jose Mourinho took charge at Old Trafford. Tuesday's ruling at least increases the possibility of Benzema strutting his stuff on the Old Trafford turf come the 2017/2018 Premier League season. Or the Emirates, if Arsene Wenger firms up his long-held interest in the striker. And of course the De Gea rumours will no doubt resurface, despite the fact that the Spaniard seems settled at Old Trafford and Keylor Navas has performed admirably at the Bernabeu. The full statement from Real Madrid relating to the appeal is below.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has today informed Real Madrid C. F. of their decision by which they have partially upheld the appeal lodged by the club against the FIFA resolution which imposed a sanction forbidding the signing of players for two transfer windows, reducing said sanction to just one period, corresponding to the January 2017 transfer window. "The decision highlights the injustice of the original ban imposed by FIFA, although the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely."