Real Madrid News
Atletico Madrid rivalling AC Milan, Juventus in race for 22-year-old Polish centre-back
Atletico Madrid are set to rival Serie A heavyweights AC Milan and Juventus in pursuit of Spezia and Poland centre-back Jakub Kiwior, according to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 22-year-old Kiwior has been with Spezia since last year and has made a solid impression in Italy. He is currently a part of the Poland squad that is set to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
And, as per the report, Juventus are set to track the defender at the tournament but will have to battle with both Milan and Atletico Madrid to land Kiwior.
Atleti are said to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements in January which makes sense considering that they have been nowhere near their best at the back this season.
Jose Maria Gimenez and Stefan Savic have been bogged down by injuries while Felipe and Mario Hermoso are hardly convincing. Furthermore, Felipe is being heavily linked with an exit in January, opening the door for a new defender to arrive at the Civitas Metropolitano.
Several names have been linked with a move to Diego Simeone’s side as a result, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Ecuadorian centre-half Piero Hincapie. And Kiwior is the latest name being mentioned as a potential target for Los Rojiblancos.
The 22-year-old is young and has shown promise in Italy so far while he also has five caps for the Poland national team. But his contract with Spezia runs until 2025 which puts the Serie A outfit in a strong negotiating position.
And considering Atletico Madrid’s tricky financial position, shelling out big money for his signing could be difficult unless they manage to make some major sales in the January transfer window.
At the same time, the interest from Juventus and Milan will also complicate matters for Los Colchoneros in pursuit of Kiwior if they are indeed seriously interested in signing him.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
