Real Madrid News
Chelsea willing to pay more than €100 million to sign priority Real Madrid transfer target
Although we are still in the early parts of the 2022/23 campaign, a number of players are already making their case for becoming the hottest prospect in the 2023 summer transfer window.
One of those players includes Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund starlet has mesmerised onlookers with his consistent performances in the Bundesliga. He has also showcased exemplary leadership at a young age, notably captaining Dortmund in a Champions League game at the age of just 19.
Bellingham’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs targeting a move for the midfielder in 2023.
However, according to a report from SportBILD, Chelsea are ready to rival Real Madrid in the race to sign the English international. The Premier League giants are even looking to move one step ahead by promising Dortmund a payment of more than €100 million.
It is quite a fortune for a 19-year-old, who joined Dortmund a little over two years ago. However, luring Bellingham away from the Bundesliga will not be so easy, as Dortmund are determined to keep hold of the player.
Even if the Black and Yellows agree to sell the midfielder, they are likely to hold out for a much higher figure than €100 million.
Recent reports suggest Los Blancos have a whopping €425 million budget ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window.
There have been speculations about a possible move for Kylian Mbappe amid reports of the Frenchman wanting to leave PSG. However, Bellingham is understood to be Real Madrid’s main objective for the summer of 2023.
But with Chelsea ready to flex their financial muscles and the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City also believed to be interested, Los Blancos will have their task cut out to land the England international.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
