Real Madrid has found a niche market that Florentino Pérez likes because it does not require opening the wallet. The formula used with players such as Kylian Mbappé and Trent Alexander-Arnold has convinced the club to scour the market in search of players whose contracts are expiring and who are looking for a change of scenery. The club’s main objectives right now are clear: a center back and a midfielder. At the moment, with the investment already made and the squad overbooked, these moves are not being considered unless they are last-minute moves, so the search for next summer is already underway.
Konaté is a priority
Real Madrid’s search for a center back is due to doubts surrounding several members of the current squad and the fact that Rüdiger and David Alaba’s contracts expire next summer and, at least in the latter’s case, it is clear that there will be no renewal. In their search for a reliable defender, the Whites have long had Ibrahima Konaté on their radar. His contract expires next July and he would arrive without a transfer fee.
The Liverpool player is rejecting a renewal and seems convinced that he will arrive at the Santiago Bernabéu next season and be reunited with Trent in the Whites’ defense. The English club is well aware that they are going to lose the player and are open to letting him go this summer for around €50 million. Real Madrid would be willing to put €25 million on the table, so they are not ruling out a last-minute offer that could make the Reds give in.
The market for center backs at no cost next summer
Under the no-cost formula, there are more players who would come onto Real Madrid’s radar to strengthen the defense.
In the Premier League, Marc Guéhi of Crystal Palace is also being monitored. The player, valued at $45 million, is out of contract next summer and has been on the Whites’ agenda for some time. Within the English league, other less high-profile names are also coming to the end of their contracts, such as Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United), and Adam Webster (Brighton).
Dayot Upamecano’s contract is also expiring at Bayern and he could be an interesting prospect. Some names that have already been linked with Madrid and are out of contract next summer are John Stones (Manchester City), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr) and Harry Maguire (Manchester United), but they are all over 30 and do not fit in with the plan to rejuvenate the squad.
Midfielder without a transfer, a complicated task
In the case of the creative and organizing midfielder the team is looking for, the issue is more complicated. The Whites have several names they are keen on, such as Rodri, Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Exequiel Palacios, but none of them will be available next summer and their prices are exorbitant. The Spaniard’s contract with City expires in 2027. A year later, in 2028, Mac Allister and Exequiel Palacios’ contracts expire, while Chelsea player Enzo Fernández is under contract until 2032. It is difficult to find a player with the profile Real Madrid is looking for, and it will certainly not be cheap or easy to complete his signing.