Real Madrid News
Real Madrid very interested in 20-year-old Arsenal striker target – report
According to reports from Italian publication La Repubblica (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Real Madrid have shown an interest in Atalanta BC striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The 20-year-old Dane joined the Serie A outfit in the summer window last year, arriving from Sturm Graz and has made a fine impact for La Dea.
So far in his time with Atalanta, Hojlund has played 21 times across all competitions, scoring seven goals and setting up two more.
And the young Dane’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid and Arsenal among the clubs taking note of his potential.
Los Blancos did not sign a new striker last summer despite parting ways with Borja Mayoral and Luka Jovic, leaving them short in the centre-forward department, given that Mariano Diaz is not favoured by manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The injuries to Karim Benzema created problems for the Merengues, but they opted not to sign a backup for their captain in the winter window either.
However, heading into the 2023/24 campaign, there is a plan to bring in a backup striker for Benzema in the summer.
And, Hojlund has appeared as a target for the reigning champions of Spain and England, with the report suggesting that they have scouted the young striker this season.
It is also being claimed that Real Madrid could already be working on an offer for the young Danish forward whose contract with Atalanta runs until the summer of 2027.
However, Los Blancos will have to face competition from Arsenal, who are also interested in the 20-year-old and have scouted him as well.
Hojlund has demonstrated great potential in his short career so far and can be a good backup for Benzema, before going into the role of the first-choice forward gradually. Whether Los Blancos make a concrete attempt to sign him in the summer will be interesting to see.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
