Real Madrid News
Real Madrid dealt blow as Tottenham very close to reaching contract agreement with midfield target
Real Madrid are firmly in the market for at least one new midfielder this summer, with incoming manager Jose Mourinho making it one of his priority signings before the start of the new season.
Several names have been touted as potential targets for Los Blancos, with West Ham United ace Mateus Fernandes also on the shortlist.
The Portuguese ace is understood to be one of the players that Mourinho prefers the most, thanks to his age, profile, and versatile nature.
Tottenham moving forward in race
However, in what comes as a bitter blow for Real Madrid, journalist Matteo Moretto reports that Tottenham Hotspur have taken a major step forward in the race to sign Fernandes.
Indeed, according to the report, Spurs are very close to reaching an agreement over contractual terms with the Portuguese international.
There have been no official talks between Roberto De Zerbi’s side and West Ham United so far, but Fernandes, for his part, remains very open to the idea of playing for Tottenham.
Apart from Spurs, Manchester United have also expressed a strong interest in signing Fernandes, and have been in talks with the player’s camp as well as his club.
But, it appears like the north London giants, having survived the threat of relegation, are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to improve the squad before next season.
What does this mean for Real Madrid?
Fernandes enjoyed a highly impressive season at West Ham in 2025/26, despite their relegation from the Premier League.
A dynamic, young midfielder, the 21-year-old Portuguese international has the potential to be an excellent long-term signing not only for Real Madrid, but any club he chooses to sign for.
However, Tottenham seem to have taken the lead over both Los Blancos and Manchester United in the race for his signing.
While the deal might not fully be sealed, Real Madrid must line up alternatives, with Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea being one of the options.
Meanwhile, Rodri of Manchester City also continues to be linked heavily and only time will tell who Mourinho & co. sign.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
