REAL MADRID president Florentino Perez claims it is only "a question of time" before the club sign David Villa – as the capture of Cristiano Ronaldo moves ever closer.

With the services of £56million playmaker Kaka already secured and an agreement in place with Manchester United for the £80m signing of Ronaldo, Madrid now appear to be closing in on Villa.

Madrid are one of a number of clubs being linked to the vaunted striker, but talks between them and cash-strapped Valencia broke down last weekend and Los Che president Manuel Llorente revealed on Tuesday that there were no existing bids on the table for the 27-year-old.

However, Perez was quoted as saying yesterday: "Manuel Llorente knows what he wants to do. Us as well.

"For that the operation is a question of time.

"Everything must be done in a friendly and co-operative way and we have very good relations with Valencia. Things need to be done calmly, be explained well and so that everybody is happy.

"We have the whole of the summer ahead of us."

Perez insists, however, the fee they are willing to pay for Villa will not be in the same bracket as the ones they agreed for Kaka and Ronaldo.

"Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, who are Ballon d‘Or or FIFA World Player of the Year winners, are players that are called investment players," he said.

"Real Madrid cannot pay these quantities of money for every player. This is not to put down Villa.

"Players who have won these awards have an international impact.

"I think Villa is an excellent player, but he is a footballer who we have to accommodate into our project."

Perez‘s comments come a day after Villa confirmed he had made up his mind about where he wants to be playing his club football next season.

Villa revealed after starring for Spain in the Confederations Cup that he had already taken a decision about his future and said that his agent was working on achieving that aim.

The striker, who has also reportedly attracted the interest of Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea, did not reveal what his decision was, but Spanish sports newspapers Marca and AS both believe it is Madrid who are his top choice.

While it remains to be seen when Madrid can complete their chase for the Euro 2008 winner, Ronaldo’s world-record switch from United could have moved a step closer with Spanish media reporting that his agent Jorge Mendes was at the Bernabeu yesterday to finalise contract details. Madrid’s summer spending spree could also see them swoop for Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, with Zinedine Zidane claiming negotiations for his fellow Frenchman are "on the right track".