Real Plan Most Expensive Winter Transfer Campaign Ever.

Real Madrid are planning the most expensive midwinter transfer campaign ever undertaken by a football club.

The Spanish giants are prepared to splash out up to 30 million euros (38.5 million dollars) on young South Americans Marcelo, Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain.

This is much more than most Spanish clubs spend every summer, let alone in winter, and will take Real's year-on-year spending on transfers to well over 100 million euros.

Marcelo Vieira Da Silva Junior, to give him his full name, is already in Madrid, to finalize a seven-year contract and to undergo the usual medical checks.

The 18 year-old left back - who is already a full international for Brazil - is seen by Real as the natural successor to Roberto Carlos, now 33 and slowing up by the week.

Real will pay Rio club Fluminense around 7 million euros for Marcelo.

Young Argentinians Gago and Higuain are going to be even more expensive than Marcelo.

Boca Juniors are asking for around 16 million euros for playmaker Gago, 21.

Tuesday's online version of Marca quotes Real sporting director Pedja Mijatovic as saying that "Gago will be very good for us, he has a good touch on the ball and a lot of quality.

"I think we have done the right think in going for him, but the deal is still not done. Other big clubs are after him, but he prefers to come to Madrid."

Rival sports daily As, meanwhile quotes Higuain as saying that "it would be really lovely to play for Real Madrid."

Higuain, 18, is a free-scoring forward or right-winger for River Plate, who would demand around 9 million euros for his sale.

While the Madrid media are looking forward to the arrival of these young Latins, part of the media in the Spanish provinces is more critical of Real's policy.

Valencia sports paper Super Deporte said on Tuesday that "spending so much money in winter should really be seen as a sign of failure, especially after spending 70 million euros in the summer."

Real are third in the Spanish Liga, behind Barcelona and Sevilla, and second in their Champions League group, behind French champions Lyon.

Catalan television channel TV-3, for its part, pointed out late on Monday that "signing so many players in winter carries its risks...by raising the expectations of the fans, regarding young players who will need time to adapt and settle in."