Wydad Athletic Club have reportedly attempted a shock move to sign a former Real Madrid star.
James Rodriguez is reportedly set to depart Brasileiro Serie A side Sao Paulo in the current transfer window, and with the Colombian seemingly looking for a new club, the Rulani Mokwena-led side threw their name into the discussion, according to FootMercato, per AS Colombia.
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The Moroccan outfit is claimed to have held talks with the former Bayern Munich star's agent.
However, it has been suggested that those discussions were almost immediately brought to a halt as the 33-year-old's wages would be too high of a demand for the Botola Pro 1 outfit.
The former Real star was one of the standout performers at the 2024 Copa America, contributing with one goal and six assists to help Colombia reach the final, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lionel Messi's Argentina.
It has been said that following his exploits in the tournament, Rodriguez desires a return to Europe after plying his trade in Brazil for a year.
Wydad, meanwhile, are claimed to have also targeted another player with plenty of European experience in former Manchester City star Mario Balotelli but, much like the Colombian, negotiations are also said to have broken down due to his high wage demands.
According to Yalla Kora, the Red Castle are on the prowl for players "who are able to make a difference", with the club seemingly targeting those with previous tenures in Europe.
It has been suggested that following the failed negotiations between the Moroccan club and the representatives of Rodriguez and Balotelli, the side has now switched its attention to midfielder Giannelli Imbula.
The Frenchman is currently a free agent and has represented various teams across Europe, including Olympique Marseille, FC Porto, Stoke City, Lecce, and most recently Turkish outfit Istanbulspor.
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Wydad will be looking to bounce back from an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign that saw them finish sixth on the league table, and will be hoping Mokwena can lead them back to the pinnacle of African football.