Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up move for Serie A hitman, loan deal could cost €15-20 million
After a hiatus of weeks, reports of Real Madrid’s hunt to sign a striker finally returned to the headlines on Thursday. Unsurprisingly, the men in white are still eyeing options on the market to reinforce the forward line, contrary to reports earlier this month.
Kylian Mbappe is the favourite, and most preferred option for Florentino Perez. However, with his arrival looking closer to being postponed to next season, there is the need for a short-term fix at least.
According to reports from Calcio Mercato, Dusan Vlahovic is one of the names Real Madrid maintain on the table. Given that his price tag stands at close to €90 million, a permanent transfer is not seen as feasible at the moment. However, there are interesting alternatives in Perez’s mind.
Los Blancos are reportedly looking into the possibility of bringing Vlahovic on a season-long loan instead. It would include a fee of around €15 to €20 million with the option to make it permanent in the summer for a larger amount.
The formula almost appears too good to be true. After all, signing a player with a track record like the Serbian’s for just one season until Mbappe arrives would be the ideal situation for Real Madrid. Moreover, the club will also have an option to buy, giving the player an incentive to produce his best.
The Juventus star is no stranger to playing at the highest level. In 27 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady last season, he scored ten goals and provided two assists with an average of 2.5 shots per game.
The focus lights now fall on the Turin-based side to see how they react to the proposition of loaning out their best player for a season. Clearly, it will not be a simple affair.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
