Real Madrid News
Liverpool plot summer raid for Real Madrid key midfield target – report
Real Madrid have made the signing of a new central midfielder one of their priorities for the summer transfer window of 2026.
The midfield department has severely underperformed in the current campaign and the failure to replace Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, who moved on in the last two summer windows, has hurt the Merengues.
As such, Los Blancos realise the necessity of a new midfielder and have identified potential targets, with Kees Smit of AZ Alkmaar leading the wishlist.
The 19-year-old Dutch prospect has been on Real Madrid’s radar since last summer and is being seen as a key target to strengthen the squad for next season.
Liverpool enter race for Kees Smit
However, according to reports relayed by AS, Liverpool have entered the race to sign Kees Smit and are preparing to move for the Dutchman in the summer.
The Premier League champions have endured a difficult first half of the season despite spending heavily last summer, when they signed players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz for huge sums.
Having failed to live up to expectations this season, the board is prepared to back manager Arne Slot once again in the next window, with Smit seen as a target to bolster their midfield department.
So, there could be a clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool for the Dutch midfield ace, while Barcelona, too, have shown an interest in the teenager.
Smit has a contract with AZ until the summer of 2028, but the Dutch outfit are slowly starting to accept that this season could be his last one with them.
But the Eredivisie club will not let Smit leave cheaply and will seek a fee of over €50 million for their prized asset, while they have also enlisted the help of superagent Jorge Mendes to facilitate the transfer.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their fifth win of the 2026/27 La Liga season when they take on Elche CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero later tonight.
With 12 points from five games, Los Blancos are currently second in the league table, three points below leaders FC Barcelona.
As such, the Spanish capital club will be eager to get the win and close the gap to the top.
Guler starts, Bellingham rested
Ahead of kickoff, Real Madrid have announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Elche, with Jose Mourinho making some important changes.
For starters, Arda Guler is back in the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the win over Rayo Vallecano.
Interestingly, however, he starts in the attacking midfield role, with Mourinho opting to rest Jude Bellingham, who has started all of Real Madrid’s games so far.
That also means that Yan Diomande retains his place in the team, starting for a second time in a row on the right wing. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. continue in their respective positions in attack.
Another notable change sees Aurelien Tchouameni make his first start of the season after recovering from injury and making two appearances off the bench.
He replaces Bernardo Silva as Federico Valverde’s partner in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs, while Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen slot in at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 15, 2026
🆚 @ElcheCF
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