Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Celta Vigo
Real Madrid are set to play hosts to Celta Vigo today, hoping to cut down Barcelona’s lead on top of the table to eight points. Los Blancos are in great form, having won five of their last six games coming into this game.
Carlo Ancelotti has opted to rest several of his key players for this game, with one eye on their game against Girona in midweek.
In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni starts alongside Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric holding the bench.
Eduardo Camavinga also gets the nod to start, but at left-back. Daniel Carvajal has been rested for Nacho at right-back, while Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao start in central defence, guarding Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Upfront, Karim Benzema retains his spot as the striker, with the in-form Marco Asensio on the right-wing. Vinicius Jr takes his left-wing spot after missing the Cadiz clash last weekend.
Confirmed Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga; Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
