Real Madrid News
Three targets shortlisted as Real Madrid decide to sign a midfielder – report
Real Madrid are moving swiftly in the transfer market in their bid to beef up the squad in time for the FIFA Club World Cup starting next month.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen are poised to arrive in the coming weeks while efforts are being made to sign a new left-back in the form of Alvaro Carreras.
The transfer business will not stop there as Melchor Ruiz of COPE reports that Real Madrid also want to sign a new midfielder, although it will be done later in the window.
Three potential targets identified
Real Madrid have a well-stocked midfield department but there have been concerns about the performance of Eduardo Camavinga this season while Luka Modric could leave after the Club World Cup.
As such, the Spanish heavyweights have now made the decision to bolster the department and have identified three potential targets already.
Indeed, as per the report, Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), and Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan) are three players that Real Madrid have added to their sortlist.
Palacios is a player that incoming manager Xabi Alonso has seen from close quarters, having been his coach at Leverkusen for the last two seasons.
The 26-year-old Argentine international has been a regular for the Spanish manager at the BayArena and could be a candidate to follow him to the Bernabeu, although he also has a contract until 2028.
Stiller, 24, has established himself as one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga since joining Stuttgart from Hoffenheim in 2023.
The German international is another player that Alonso will be familiar with. However, Stiller signed a new contract with Stuttgart earlier this year, committing himself to the club until 2028, which could pose an issue.
Reijnders is a player that has made a big impression at Real Madrid following a fine display in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, when he even scored a goal helping AC Milan secure a win.
However, Manchester City are also gunning for the Dutchman’s signing which could complicate matters.
As mentioned above, Real Madrid are keeping the signing of a midfielder for later in the market and it remains to be seen if they bring in any of the aforementioned names or decide to go a different way.
Real Madrid are set to kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday when they host Inter Milan at the Bernabeu.
Jose Mourinho’s side will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis last time out.
And ahead of the crucial European opener, the Portuguese has received a timely boost, with Thiago Pitarch and Endrick both in contention to feature.
Pitarch and Endrick back in training
According to Arancha Rodriguez, Pitarch and Endrick returned to full group training on Sunday, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, in the final session before the Inter clash. Both are now in contention to make the squad vs Inter.
All three had been sidelined by injury, with Pitarch having suffered a torn medial collateral ligament during pre-season and Endrick nursing a muscular problem.
Their return to team training is a welcome development for Mourinho, even if none of the trio are likely to start given they missed more than a month of preparation.
Of the group, Pitarch and Endrick are reported to have the best chance of making the matchday squad, with the pair now working to sharpen their fitness in the coming days.
Why Pitarch could prove crucial
Pitarch’s potential availability is particularly significant given Mourinho’s threadbare midfield options for the Inter game.
Real Madrid will be without Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva, all of whom are suspended, leaving the Portuguese short in the middle of the park.
With Tchouameni also only just returning from a groin issue, the young Spaniard could offer valuable depth in an area where Mourinho has few alternatives.
For Endrick, meanwhile, the game represents a chance to make his competitive debut under Mourinho and begin clawing back ground on Carlos Espi in the race for a bench role in attack.
While Mourinho will not want to rush any of his returning players, having Pitarch and Endrick back in the fold offers him some much-needed flexibility as Real Madrid look to make a statement in Europe.
