Real Madrid News
Real Madrid following 24-year-old Serie A midfielder for next summer
With Jude Bellingham reportedly inching closer and closer to Liverpool, Real Madrid might have to turn their focus towards other targets to bolster their midfield unit next summmer.
And, according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Real Madrid are tracking Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovric as a possible target for the summer of 2023.
Lovric spent the early parts of his career in Austria before joining Swiss outfit FC Lugano in 2019. After three years at the club, the 24-year-old moved to Udinese this past summer, joining as a free agent.
Since arriving in Italy, Lovric has performed well for Udinese, scoring two goals and setting up one more in 14 Serie A appearances.
A midfielder by trade, Lovric is capable of operating in multiple roles in the centre of the park. Capped 25 times by the Slovenian national team, he also has three goals to his name on the international stage.
And, his performances have seemingly caught the attention of Real Madrid, who are reportedly following the midfielder ahead of the summer window of 2023.
Lovric is contracted with Udinese until the summer of 2027. And the Italian outfit could demand a sizeable sum for his services should Real Madrid do decide to act on their reported interest in the 24-year-old.
With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the final phase of their careers, the Merengues need to infuse some fresh blood into their midfield unit.
Bellingham has been at the top of the wishlist for Real Madrid, but his €150 million valuation has seemingly become a roadblock for the reigning champions of Spain and Europe.
Other midfielders like Enzo Fernandez of SL Benfica and Leicester City star Youri Tielemans have been mentioned as possible targets, with Lovric also now being added to the list.
Before he was hired by Bayern Munich as the direct replacement for Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel was closely linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
The German tactician had kept a close eye on the development at Santiago Bernabeu, especially with coach Carlo Ancelotti facing immense pressure following the club’s poor performances in domestic competitions.
A recent report from Jorge Picon has offered more details on the Tuchel saga, suggesting that the coach was even learning Spanish during his time at Ibiza, anticipating a potential move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
There were even contacts made between Tuchel’s entourage and Real Madrid. Although the talks were positive, the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.
Real Madrid did not guarantee him the job. They had informed Tuchel that Ancelotti may continue at the Bernabeu in the event the club win the UEFA Champions League this season.
This bit of uncertainty played a critical role in convincing Tuchel to join Bayern Munich instead. The former Chelsea boss was hired as a direct replacement for Nagelsmann, who was sacked after a poor season in the Bundesliga by the club’s high standards.
However, Tuchel’s move to Bayern appears to be a missed opportunity on the German’s part, as Real Madrid have recently intensified their search for a new manager.
It is clear that the club’s hierarchy is yet to reach a consensus over the future of Ancelotti, with some believing that a change is necessary come the end of the season. In fact, the club’s president Florentino Perez has been an admirer of Tuchel’s compatriot Nagelsmann.
The coaching prodigy is one of the candidates to replace Ancelotti in the summer, though it is Mauricio Pochettion who is reportedly leading the race so far.
