Real Madrid are already having an active summer, with Xabi Alonso poised to replace Carlo Ancelotti, and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen set to join Los Blancos too. The next item on their agenda is a left-back this summer, but they will then turn their attentions to a midfield recruit.
The latest from the Spanish capital is that Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras is Real Madrid’s preferred choice at left-back, and the object of their pursuits. Some say they will do what they can to persuade Martin Zubimendi to leave Arsenal at the altar, while AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders is also on their shortlist. Manchester City are though to be considering an offer for Reijnders though, in the region of €70m. Reijnders has been confirmed as a player Los Blancos are considering by Cadena Cope, but there are other ideas in mind too.
Angelo Stiller – Germany’s replacement for Toni Kroos
Part of the reason Real Madrid want to strengthen in the middle of the pitch is the sorely felt absence of Toni Kroos. Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller, tipped to replace Kroos long-term in the German national team is an option they are considering. Stiller impressed Real Madrid during an outing at the Santiago Bernabeu early on this season, and has a €36.5m release clause this summer, which would make him half the price of Reijnders.
Exequiel Palacios – A known quantity for Xabi Alonso
Alonso has been linked with a series of his soon to be former Bayer Leverkusen players, including Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie. The latest is 26-year-old Exequiel Palacios. It would be something of a surprise if they moved for Palacios, given he has dropped out of Alonso’s starting line-ups this season, beginning less than a third of their Bundesliga matches this season. However he could be a useful depth piece for Alonso, and someone to help impose his methods.
