Real Madrid transfer targets – Will Los Blancos spend in January?

With three senior defenders currently sidelined with ACL injuries, Real Madrid may be forced to change their usual policy of not spending money in January this season.

With the race for the LaLiga title and the possibility of additional knockout rounds in this season’s Champions League fast approaching, one or two smart signings could make the difference if Los Blancos are to stay on track to win silverware and survive. with busy schedule demands.

Any additions are likely to occur in hindsight. Although Trent Alexander-Arnold is believed to be one of Real Madrid’s main long-term transfer targets, a January move for the Liverpool player, whose contract expires in the summer, appears unlikely.

As a result, the defending Spanish champions may need to get creative, and dip into the loan market, or look for alternative short-term solutions to their current defensive problems.

Reluctance to do business in January

Although rumors often circulate, Real Madrid transfer rumors in January rarely have much substance. In fact, it has been five years since they signed any players in January, and ignoring the transfer window seems to be the very obvious option at Santiago Bernabeu.

Even last season, when their injury conditions were comparable to their current injuries, Real Madrid did not sign a contract. Although Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba suffered ACL injuries in the first half of the season.

They have indeed recruited Kepa as a goalkeeper in the summer transfer market, but the conventional policy at other big European clubs is to bring in additional defenders, given the challenging situation.

Real Madrid resisted the temptation, instead frequently playing midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the heart of defense for the rest of the season, and also relying on the experienced Nacho. The policy of not signing players finally paid off, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side winning LaLiga and the Champions League.

Real Madrid’s January signings in the 2010s and 2020s

Year	Player	Signed from	Cost
2020	Reinier	Flemish people	€30 million
2019	Brahim Diaz	City of Man	€17 million
2015	Luke Silva	Cruise	€13 million
2013	Diego Lopez	Seville	€3.5 million
2011	Emmanuel Adebayor	City of Man	Loan (€4 million)

It’s surprising how rarely Real Madrid have dipped into the January transfer window over the past 15 years. They have not made a signing this month, since Reinier’s arrival in 2020, and he initially joined the B team rather than the senior squad.

Brahim Diaz is the latest January addition to play a real role in the first-team setup. He made nine appearances in LaLiga in the second half of the 2018/19 season, after moving from Man City. However, it was only after his return to the club after three years at Milan that Brahim began to make a big impact in the Spanish capital.

Lucas Silva also signed in January 2015, but the Brazilian continued to have a miserable time at the Bernabeu where he rarely featured, and his contract was finally terminated by mutual consent in 2019.

Previously, Real Madrid did look for short-term improvements, with the additions of Emmanuel Adebayor in 2011 and Diego Lopez in 2013, with Diego Lopez joining due to Iker Casillas’ injury which kept him out for three months.

Will injuries force them into the market this season?

Given their reluctance to add new players in January unless absolutely necessary, it seems safe to assume that whatever business Real Madrid do next month, it will be in their defence.

They have enough options elsewhere, and the left back is also filled with Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia. However, Dani Carvajal’s season-ending injury left only 33-year-old Lucas Vazquez at right-back, and he even played as a winger.

In central defense, Antonio Rudiger is again a reliable mainstay, and Tchouameni will most likely spend the rest of the season playing in that position. However, with Militao sidelined with another ACL injury, and with major doubts about Alaba’s condition when he eventually returns from his injury, the protection available is very limited.

Real Madrid first team CB:
❌ Éder Milito — ACL.
❌ David Alaba — ACL.

CB options for emergencies:
❌ Dani Carvajal — ACL.

CB Academy:
❌ Joan Martínez — ACL.
❌ Miguel Perales — ACL. pic.twitter.com/4HrRICws1p

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 16, 2024

With the versatile Nacho no longer at the club, Ancelotti’s defensive options are even more limited than last season.

Jesus Vallejo is technically still part of the squad, but is clearly not trusted. 21-year-old Raul Asencio has emerged following his promotion from Castilla, and has coped quite well so far, but it is doubtful that Real Madrid will want to face decisive games at the end of the season with a player who is not even considered the best player. the best defender in their youth team.

Real Madrid transfer targets – Who could play protector?

Any injury suffered by Rudiger will give Real Madrid serious problems at the back, so it is likely that the team currently in 3rd place in LaLiga will try to do its job this January. Assuming this is the decision, there are a few different approaches they can take.

One of them is recruiting young defenders on long-term contracts, players who are seen as having a bright future, but who are also able to adapt quickly and become useful squad players for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

Alternatively, Real Madrid could sacrifice any long-term vision, and simply look for the best defender or defenders they can bring in on loan, or perhaps an older player on a short-term contract until the end of this season or next season.

The latter may be more likely to be deployed at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold expected to be a top target this summer. In the heart of defence, there is certainly room in the squad for a young defender to come in and compete for a place, following the failure to sign summer target Leny Yoro.

Ideally, they might look for a player capable of fulfilling both roles. Los Blancos have been linked with a move for the following defenders in recent weeks:

Christian Mosque, Valencia

20-year-old Christian Mosquera has impressed in a Valencia side that has struggled over the last 18 months. He is clearly one of the outstanding young centre-backs in LaLiga, and having made over 50 starts in Spain’s top flight, he has enough experience to come in and be at least a useful player for the rest of the season. .

Although Valencia would not want to lose Mosquera given their current plight, they are clearly a club selling at a high price at the moment. The owners would likely welcome any offer from Los Blancos and could potentially use at least some of the cash to strengthen their options on the other side of the pitch.

Jonathan Tah, Bayer Leverkusen

If Real Madrid decide there is a real need to bring in a more experienced centre-back in January, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah is one player who might be considered.

Tah started alongside Rudiger at the heart of Germany’s defense last month and he is a player who would immediately increase Ancelotti’s options at the back. Like Alexander-Arnold, his current contract expires in the summer, so Los Blancos will likely be reluctant to spend big to acquire Tah’s services in January.

Vitor Reis, Palmeiras

There have been many young Brazilians moving to the Spanish capital in recent years. Following success stories such as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, Real Madrid are now heavily linked with Palmeira youngster Vitor Reis.

The centre-back will be 19 in January, so he is old enough to be signed by Real Madrid and immediately included in the first team squad. Reis has represented Brazil at youth level, but is still inexperienced, having only broken into Palmeiras’ first team this year.

Pedro Porro, Tottenham

Seen as an alternative target to Alexander-Arnold, Pedro Porro would certainly be a great addition if Real Madrid are able to reach an agreement in January. It has been five years since he last appeared in LaLiga for Real Valladolid, but the 25-year-old has developed into one of the best attacking right-backs in the Premier League.

Tottenham are reluctant to sell, and it is unlikely that Los Blancos will take Porro, unless they have a clear indication that Alexander-Arnold intends to extend his stay at Liverpool.

Juanlu Sanchez, Sevilla

An alternative and more achievable Spanish right-back option in the short term is Juanlu Sanchez at Sevilla. Just like Valencia, the Andalusian team is going through a difficult period and will most likely benefit soon if a big offer comes in for a player who has made 17 starts in LaLiga to date, and has also appeared in the Champions League.

Juanlu is also capable of operating in midfield and he would represent a solid squad option in the short term for Los Blancos, and would provide much-needed competition for Lucas Vazquez at right-back.