OMNISPORT

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is open to further new signings before the transfer window closes on September 1.

LaLiga and European champions Madrid have been relatively quiet in the market in terms of arrivals, with youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos the only new players brought to the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Madrid have generated close to €125million through the sales of Alvaro Morata, Danilo, Mariano Diaz, Diego Llorente, Burgui and the loan exit of James Rodriguez, and they have been consistently linked with a club-record swoop for Monaco star Kylian Mbappe.

Zidane is happy with the options at his disposal but is not ruling out the prospect of a late flurry of arrivals before the end of the month.

"I have a fantastic squad which can still be improved," he said on Saturday. "Until [the end of the window], anything can happen, here and abroad."

Madrid begin their title defence against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday at the end of the week in which they claimed the Supercopa de Espana with a 5-1 aggregate win over Barcelona.

Zidane accepts Madrid have become an even bigger scalp for opponents given their success over the last two years and has urged his players not to allow their work-rate to drop.

"As I always say, for us it's hard work that will allow us to achieve things," he said. "We're working well, we're in a good moment and we have to make the most of it.

"Last year, everything was decided on the last day. It's a long year.

"We know that [we're the team to beat], now more than before, but every opponent always wants to win against Madrid. We think about ourselves.

"Every game will be important because you have to start well if you want to win LaLiga. Every game needs a tremendous effort."

Marco Asensio scored spectacular goals in each of the Supercopa legs and has been tipped to start on Sunday in place of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is serving a five-match ban for pushing the referee after being sent off in the first match at Camp Nou.

"Everyone knows what Asensio can bring. He's doing it better and better, he's phenomenal," Zidane said.

"We're all in the same boat. There is no 'A' or 'B' team here. There will always be changes.