Real Madrid News
Real Madrid suffer major setback as defensive target edges closer to contract renewal
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has come in like a man on a mission and has already worked on a number of deals to bolster the squad ahead of the new season.
Los Blancos have already signed both Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as free agents and are on the verge of completing a deal for Marc Cucurella.
Judging by how Mourinho is operating, he has identified defence as an area he wants to reinforce, and it looks like he is not done.
One player Madrid wanted to sign was Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol. However, it was reported that the English club were in talks with him to extend his contract.
Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, City are increasingly confident of securing Gvardiol’s agreement on a new contract, with improved financial terms already presented to the player.
The renewal is expected to be completed soon, and this would be a blow to Madrid’s plans.
Mourinho’s ideal defensive profile
There is a reason Gvardiol’s name has repeatedly done the rounds as an excellent defensive target.
His profile is what modern managers dream of. The 24-year-old combines physical dominance, composure on the ball and tactical versatility. He can operate both as a centre-back and as a left-back, making him exactly the type of multifunctional defender Mourinho values.
The Croatian also possesses the experience and winning mentality required to thrive at a club where expectations are relentlessly high.
He would immediately raise the ceiling of the backline and would do so more than any of the other players the club have signed.
Manchester City move quickly
Manchester City’s response has been decisive. Rather than allowing uncertainty to grow around one of their most important defenders, the Premier League side have moved to secure his future with a contract extension reportedly running until 2031.
The improved salary package reflects how highly the Premier League side value the defender and demonstrates their determination to keep him away from Europe’s biggest clubs.
Real Madrid must look elsewhere
Unless something unexpected happens before the contract is signed, Gvardiol will no longer be a realistic target for this summer or the foreseeable future.
The focus will now likely shift towards alternative defensive options as Mourinho continues shaping his squad.
Gvardiol may have been one of the most attractive solutions available on the market, but Real Madrid have enough options, and it remains to be seen who they eventually go for.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
