Real Madrid News
Real Madrid enquire about 24-year-old Barcelona target, player open to Bernabeu switch
In a major development, journalist Sergio Santos is reporting that Real Madrid have set their sights on RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo and have enquired about his situation. The 24-year-old Spaniard has been a long-term target for arch-rivals FC Barcelona.
Olmo came through the youth ranks at Barcelona’s La Masia academy before leaving for Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb at a very young age. Having broken through the first-team setup there, the attacking midfielder quickly became one of the most sought-after players in Europe.
A move to RB Leipzig followed in January 2020, and the Spaniard has continued to enhance his reputation in Germany.
However, Olmo’s contract with Leipzig expires in 2024 and he has shown no desire to renew yet, despite Leipzig being keen on offering him an extension. It is claimed that the versatile attacking midfielder desires a return to Spain, which has alerted Real Madrid.
As per the report, Los Blancos see the 24-year-old Olmo as a perfect fit for their transfer plans as he is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline or operate as an interior midfielder.
Furthermore, given his contract expires in 2024, Real Madrid believe that Olmo would be available for a fair price in the inflated market, making him an appealing target.
As things stand, Marco Asensio, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Dani Ceballos will all be out of contract in the summer. While Real Madrid intend to renew them, it is likely that at least one will depart in the summer, opening up a vacancy for Olmo.
Olmo’s potential arrival would also add more homegrown Spanish talent at Real Madrid. That plus Brahim Diaz’s return from his loan spell at AC Milan would also enable manager Carlo Ancelotti to relieve Rodrygo of his duties on the right flank and utilise him as a second striker.
Olmo, for his part, is said to be open to the prospect of playing for Real Madrid despite his past roots at Barcelona and the constant links of a return to Camp Nou.
The fact that he can return to Spain and compete and win titles regularly is said to appeal to the Spanish international, who prefers Real Madrid over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at this point.
There have been preliminary contacts at this point to send out feelers and it remains to be seen how things develop on this front in the coming months. Real Madrid can either look to sign him by paying a fee this summer or wait until 2024 to sign him up as a free agent.
Real Madrid News
‘Operation Havertz’ collapses as Real Madrid determine Tottenham striker as ‘urgent’ signing
Jose Felix Diaz of MARCA has provided an update on Real Madrid’s pursuit of Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, claiming that the operation has collapsed completely and the German international will not be joining the Merengues this summer.
Instead, Real Madrid have identified Tottenham Hotspur and England superstar Harry Kane as the top priority and an ‘urgent’ signing for the summer.
With Los Blancos set to bid goodbye to several attackers, they are left with just Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes as senior options in the final third at the moment. So, there will be multiple forwards brought in this summer to make up for the losses.
Havertz was said to be one such player who was well-liked within the club. In fact, reports in Germany stated that the 23-year-old was already on his way to Real Madrid in the summer.
However, that does not appear to be the case as the report from MARCA states that the operation to sign Havertz from Chelsea has already collapsed.
It is claimed that Real Madrid never made any move for the former Bayer Leverkusen ace, while it is also being suggested that he is going through the process of renewing his contract at Stamford Bridge.
While Havertz might no longer be an option on the table, the Merengues are prepared to make a concerted push to sign Kane from Tottenham.
Carlo Ancelotti considers the 29-year-old the ideal replacement for Karim Benzema and wants to sign him up as soon as possible.
However, Real Madrid do not intend to pay over the top for the England striker and will not offer more than €80 million for him. Instead, there may be a possibility that Ferland Mendy could be offered as a makeweight.
Kane’s contract expires next year and with no European football on offer, Tottenham are in a difficult position to keep hold of their ace goalscorer. But negotiations with Daniel Levy are never easy, as Real Madrid learnt in the past in the cases of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
So, it remains to be seen if Los Blancos are successful in completing the ‘urgent’ and ‘necessary’ signing of Kane in the coming weeks.
