Real Madrid News
Real Madrid considering Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as a possible Ancelotti replacement
Problems between Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez seem to have gathered steam to an extent that the team is said to be on the lookout for a potential replacement.
In that regard, current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has emerged as a serious contender, reports Tomas Gonzalez-Martin via Remontada Blanca.
We have reported before that Perez has expressed his discontent over some of Ancelotti’s decisions of late. To begin with, the club president does not like the fact that the Italian is not giving enough chances to the likes of Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos.
In fact, Perez has specifically told Ancelotti that the reliance on Toni Kroos and Luka Modric should reduce. While there is some substance to his demand, given the duo’s age, the suggestion interestingly came days after it was reported that the manager sees the midfielders as the backbone of his project.
In any way, Real Madrid have largely struggled to keep their nose up in the La Liga title race this season. The team is already nine points behind league leaders and are also trailing in the Copa del Rey semi-final at the moment.
If Ancelotti fails to alter results, high chance that he might be asked to leave. And in this case, Madrid are preparing a succession plan and a certain Mikel Arteta has emerged as a top candidate.
The Spaniard has altered Arsenal’s destiny altogether in a very short period to an extent that they currently lead the Premier League standings by five points. In his three years of managerial career with Arsenal, he has won 97 of 166 games across all competitions, drawing 25 and losing 44.
Arteta has built a strong, youthful team that plays an attractive, attacking brand of football and it is bound to attract admiration from outside, with Real Madrid chiefs seemingly taking note. However, prying him away from the Gunners will not be easy.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool monitoring 19-year-old Bundesliga wonderkid – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all monitoring Bayer Leverkusen and Germany wonderkid Florian Wirtz.
After recovering from his ACL injury, the teenage sensation has been slowly working his way back to his best form. So far this term, Wirtz has managed to rack up a tally of two goals and six assists from 13 matches in all competitions.
The 19-year-old’s talent and potential have never been in question and hence it does not come as a surprise that elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the German international.
A versatile attacking midfielder, Wirtz is capable of playing anywhere in the final third of the pitch and backs up with top-notch end product. Be it as a false-nine or in a more withdrawn role, the youngster has excelled for Bayer Leverkusen, catching the attention of top teams.
Real Madrid, for their part, are also understood to be among Wirtz’s admirers. Given the situation surrounding Karim Benzema’s fitness and the lack of backup at the top, the youngster could be an option, as he has shown potential while operating through the middle.
But Barcelona also have a strong interest in the teenager with reports even suggesting that they have already made contact with his father to enquire about his situation.
At the same time, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is understood to be a huge admirer of his fellow German and with Roberto Firmino on his way out, Wirtz could be lined up as a possible replacement.
However, Romano adds that the expectation is that Wirtz could stay at Bayer Leverkusen for one more year and depart Germany once the UEFA Euro 2024 is out of the way.
For now, there have been talks or negotiations with any clubs, but Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are all tracking Wirtz and his progress in Germany.
