Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ready to sell 27-year-old ace in the summer if veteran defender renews
The idea of a defensive full-back is now one of the past. Modern-day football rewards players who boast versatility and a more diverse portfolio, and the full-back position is one where the aforementioned theorem applies best.
The new-world full-back requires an astute sense of space, movement and passing in the final third with a killer instinct in the attack. Yet, there is little room for compromise on the defensive side of things.
When Real Madrid signed Ferland Mendy from Olympique Lyonnais in 2019, he was seen as one of the brightest young talents in both aspects of the game. However, his stint at the club so far has been hit and miss.
According to reports from Cadena SER via AS, the Frenchman’s future at the Spanish capital is uncertain. If Nacho Fernandez renews his deal with Real Madrid and a good offer for Mendy arrives, the club will not hesitate to sell him in the summer.
Truth be told, Mendy’s career at Madrid has not been the chaotic shipwreck the media portrays. The 27-year-old has delivered even under the highest of pressure with no signs of cracking and the 2022 UCL final is a prime example.
However, his inability to work on his weaknesses, as well as his injury and fitness issues, have seen the Merengues run out of patience.
Defensively, the former Lyon man is usually always on point. However, his contributions in the final third are negligible and it is often Vinicius Jr who wages a lone war down Real Madrid’s left wing.
On top of that, Mendy’s injury woes this season have been a major issue for Los Blancos. The French international has missed almost as many games as he has played due to multiple injuries.
With Fran Garcia arriving in June, Mendy does not appear well-placed to hold onto his starting position next season. Moreover, Nacho Fernandez and Eduardo Camavinga serve as reliable backups upon need.
With the French full-back being reduced to the status of a surplus player, a departure is increasingly likely. Yet, one knows that everything will boil down to the transfer fee clubs are willing to shell out for his services.
Real Madrid News
Harry Kane ‘very close’ to completing Real Madrid move, only final details remain – report
Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid was finally closed earlier today as officially confirmed by Borussia Dortmund on their website. Yet, the offices at Santiago Bernabeu have not even taken a break to celebrate their success.
According to reports from Alfredo Pedullà, Los Blancos are now completely focused on the acquisition of Harry Kane. The English striker’s arrival is very close to approaching closure and only a few details remain to be sorted.
The Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur representatives reportedly held a meeting today over the striker’s transfer. The agenda was to agree on a number for the transfer fee.
The Premier League side began the proceedings with an expectation of €100 to €110 million in exchange for Kane. However, the Merengues suggested a lower point at €80 to €90 million, albeit with the option to include bonuses.
There is not much separating the two parties at the moment, and the minor gap will be bridged in the coming days. Overall, the meeting ended with a broad understanding between the two clubs.
Carlo Ancelotti sees the English striker as the centre-piece of his attack for next season given the recent departure of Karim Benzema. After all, Kane has been one of football’s most consistent goalscorers over the past decade.
Yet, Los Blancos cannot afford to let their guard down with one signing and will need to rope in at least two more names in attack to serve as backup options. The exits of Mariano Diaz, Marco Asensio, and Eden Hazard leave them with no squad depth, after all.
Kane has scored 30, 17, and 23 goals in his last three seasons in the Premier League and is the epitome of consistency. Further, he had three assists in his most recent league season and created 14 big chances.
