Real Madrid ready surprise move for Liverpool target Adel Taarabt

The Rangers ace has become one of the hottest properties in Europe after almost single-handedly guiding the west Londoners to promotion with 19 goals and a string of dazzling displays. 

Taarabt was linked with a move to United before he joined QPR from Tottenham last summer, but it seemed Liverpool had moved to the front of the queue for the Moroccan schemer. 

Damien Comolli, now at Anfield, was the man responsible for bringing Taarabt to England in 2007, and with the Reds desperately seeking a creative spark for next season, Liverpool's director of football was rumoured to be gearing up to pounce once again.

But Real’s reported interest could change everything, with the forward allegedly telling his team-mates that he's on Jose Mourinho's radar. 

I'll prove Spurs were wrong to let me go so cheaply, vows QPR talisman Taarabt

It took the bright lights of Times Square for Adel Taarabt to realise he had to leave Tottenham last summer. And now he wants to show Harry Redknapp and Co exactly what they are missing when he plays against his old club next season. 

Taarabt moved across London to QPR after finally losing patience with his lack of first-team action at White Hart Lane. And it has proved an inspired decision by the Morocco midfielder after a string of sensational displays helped Rangers end their 15-year exile from the top flight. His performances have earned rave reviews and helped him win Championship player of the year. 

FA would be wrong to punish the QPR players, says Taarabt

As a Football Association disciplinary panel begins its deliberations on the Alejandro Faurlin case, Adel Taarabt, the Queen's Park Rangers captain, is insisting that it would be wrong for the players to suffer as a result of any punishment.

Rangers, who secured promotion to the Premier League on Saturday, face seven charges relating to alleged breaches of rules on third-party ownership of players when they signed Faurlin. A verdict, which could include a points deduction, is expected on Friday.

"We have done the job on the pitch so we deserve to be where we are – we didn't cheat or do anything wrong," Taarabt said yesterday. "Every game we play 11 against 11 and we win games on the pitch. We don't do anything else."