Real Madrid set to be handed two window transfer ban by Federation Internationale de Football Association

Arch-rivals Barcelona are still serving time for the same offence, but will be allowed to integrate new players into their squad in January.

The report also indicates that Real Madrid and their rivals, Atletico, are also under investigation from the governing body and could face similar bans.

It is standard practice for clubs to appeal these decisions as Barcelona did and therefore delay the start of their punishment by one transfer window.

Spanish publication AS are reporting today that Arsenal and Chelsea are set to receive transfer bans, akin to that received by Barcelona.

The only other man who can sign off on such decision, the general secretary Jerome Valcke, has been put on indefinite leave and relieved of his duties until further notice due to “a series of allegations involving the secretary general”.

The potential for any ban to be handed down to some of the Europe’s biggest clubs will lend another layer of intrigue to the January transfer window as those clubs could be spurred into big spending ahead of their suspension.

However, Mundo Deportivo add that Real are doing their best to delay any sanction for as long as possible, and they are pressing Federation Internationale de Football Association to impose a ban as soon as possible given Barcelona punishment.

The newspaper writes Madrid had the signings of over 50 players investigated and were found guilty of breaching Article 19 in the same manner as the Catalans.

The 2015 embargo didn’t appear to hurt Barca too much given they won an historic European and domestic treble in May and now lead La Liga, but injuries in recent months have heightened pressure of late.