Change is very much afoot at Real Madrid, as the January transfer window fast approaches.
Perhaps the Spanish giants will not invest too heavily next month, though it seems an almost certainty that the Bernabeu will become a revolving door of incomers during the summer.
For a team so prolific when it comes to recruiting new stars, Madrid had actually placed their shopping on hold for a while.
Changes are afoot at Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti’s side is expected to look much different next season following a busy few months in the transfer market
As bitter rivals Barcelona have seemingly imploded and face untold financial worries, Madrid have conserved their resources and look set to hit the market with a vengeance in the months to come.
So, with names now being linked left, right and centre, it seems like only a matter of time before a huge shake-up in the Spanish capital is performed.
But which names are being lined up, and how could the squad actually look next season? Sportsmail takes a closer look…
Antonio Rudiger
From a Chelsea outcast under Frank Lampard, Rudiger has very much come full circle.
Aggressive, confrontational and always willing to put his body on the line, everything has clicked for the Germany international under his compatriot Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea have every cause to be ecstatic with Rudiger’s turnaround, but this has brought complications of its own.
Indeed, under Lampard Chelsea considered offloading Rudiger due to his status as a non-starter, and the fact his contract was winding down.
Now, after re-establishing himself as the club’s first choice centre back, the power has changed hands.
Antonio Rudiger will be a free agent in the summer if he does not agree new terms at Chelsea
Rudiger wants a deal which reflects his standing at Stamford Bridge, and the 28-year-old is not short of suitors.
One of them most prominently being Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are still in the process of crafting a back line for the future, after sanctioning the departures of both Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the summer.
Rudiger is likely to be handed a very lucrative deal at the Bernabeu, with Madrid set to save multiple millions by not having to pay a transfer fee.
Given his form over the last 12-months, Rudiger would arrive and expect to be a starter, even though the LaLiga titans are also keenly eyeing up other defensive options.
Joe Gomez
And one of those options is Liverpool man Gomez, who has a big decision to make regarding his future.
It doesn’t seem that long ago since Gomez had formed a solid pairing with Virgil van Dijk and looked to be a permanent fixture at Anfield for years to come.
As reported this week by Sportsmail, Real Madrid have acknowledged the fact that Gomez has slipped down the pecking order and is now finding game-time hard to come by on Merseyside.
Though the 24-year old Gomez is returning to full fitness after a series of injuries, he captained Liverpool against Norwich in the Carabao Cup and was a late substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
As revealed by Sportsmail, Madrid are now taking a serious interest in Liverpool’s Joe Gomez
He has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, yet Sportsmail understands that is not an option as it stands, a fact underlined by manager Jurgen Klopp who asserted last week that he would be patient with Gomez and had no plans for him to leave in January.
Madrid however could offer the youngster an enticing deal at the end of the season, in the hope he would be willing to force an exit in order to join a fellow elite European side and test his abilities in a different league.
At present Gomez sits behind starting duo Van Dijk and Joel Matip, and finds himself as an understudy to the second-in-command Ibrahima Konate.
Pau Torres
It’s very much a case of defensive focus for Madrid, who have had an iron in the fire regarding Villarreal star Torres for some time.
The imposing centre half is regarded as one of the best in Spain, and wasted little time in ousting Ramos from the national ranks.
It would be a changing of the guard if Madrid are able to acquire his services, and slot him in at the same central defensive berth which their former captain used to shepherd on a weekly basis.
Torres has previously suggested he is willing to leave his boyhood club in search of a greater challenge, though has been very specific regarding the level he would depart for.
Madrid have followed Pau Torres for some time and could decide between him and Rudiger
Last season the Spaniard turned down the chance to move to Tottenham, despite Villarreal’s willingness to accept a bumper bid.
Speaking about his decision to turn them down, Torres outlined that Villarreal could offer exactly what Spurs could not – namely Champions League football.
‘The pull of playing the Champions League with the team from my town was bigger,’ he told The Guardian. ‘I was clear from the start.
‘This is only the fourth time Villarreal reached the Champions League, which shows how hard it is and it was a dream to play the competition with my lifelong club.
‘The president didn’t put pressure on me, even though they could make a lot of money. He always said ‘the decision’s yours’, that he’d respect it. I appreciate that.’
Paul Pogba
All the noises coming out of Pogba’s camp suggest his time at Manchester United is well and truly over.
It has been several months of contract stalemate at Old Trafford, with the player’s agent Mino Raiola in no rush to secure his client a bumper extension in the north west.
This usually means only one thing with Raiola; his prized asset is about to be touted all around Europe.
It is no secret that Pogba has had one eye on Spanish football for some time, and it seems as though only a late intervention from PSG could deter this.
Paul Pogba is heading for the Manchester United exit door and Madrid are ready and waiting
Indeed, Pogba and Real Madrid look like a marriage just waiting to happen.
The World Cup winner will be a free agent at the end of the campaign, meaning a luxurious package can be struck with any potential suitor.
The France star is expected to slot straight into the midfield, in among Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Madrid have one eye on the future, and showed this when swooping to sign Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes last summer.
In many football-thinking circles Camavinga is seen as the second coming of Pogba; a strong, graceful, immeasurably talented central midfielder with an ability to make the ball do whatever he wants.
It is no coincidence that Madrid have spied the perfect opportunity to pair the duo together at club level, and will do all in their power to make it a reality.
Kylian Mbappe
The big one.
Madrid have been putting every single one of their eggs in Mbappe’s basket for some time and it is finally about to pay off.
The French superstar has finally wound down his contract and will make the switch to Spain as a free agent at the end of the season.
Mbappe has made no secret of his desire to one day turn out for Madrid, and even tried to push for a transfer last summer following PSG’s signing of Lionel Messi.
Kylian Mbappe will be the huge move of the summer if he joins Madrid on a free from PSG
Nonetheless, the Parisians held firm and even rejected an incredible offer in the region of £160million from Madrid.
Now, all that money which would have propped up a deal will be funnelled into other transfer activity, and likely make Mbappe’s contract the most financially lucrative in world football history.
The 23-year-old would form the focal point of attack at the Bernabeu for the long-term future and become the first name on the team sheet; that much is guaranteed.
The line-up
So, of the aforementioned stars, who actually gets straight in?
Presuming that Madrid would be successful in each of their ventures, the likelihood is that each of Rudiger, Pogba and Mbappe would immediately pull on the famous white shirt.
A slight disclaimer here; while Madrid are undoubtedly in the market for central defenders, the chances of them signing each of their targets for the back line is slim.
Should a deal to prise Torres away from Villarreal fail, a cut-price swoop for Rudiger would most likely be focused upon, and so forth. Liverpool, likewise, appear very unwilling to do business to sell Gomez, and would only be tempted if the player pushed for an exit.
It is not fanciful to suggest that Rudiger would look to test himself at the top level just as he prepares to reach his footballing peak, and so would slot alongside veteran star David Alaba at the heart of defence – ahead of Thibaut Courtois and flanked on either side by Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy in the full-back positions.
The midfield is an interesting one. Madrid are very keen to refresh their middle area for the new era, yet they still boast so many timeless stars in their ranks. On their day, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos stand among the finest ball-players in the game.
Madrid have a wonderful blend of starlets and veterans, and must balance the XI accordingly
Therefore, it is likely Pogba would slot into the system as a midfield three, alongside these two icons – interchanging periodically with Brazilian rock Casemiro.
Longer term the French star would be paired in tandem with Camavinga, as Madrid look to inject style, vibrancy and power into their middle section.
Up front, Karim Benzema continues to defy Father Time and score goals at a breathtaking rate. For this reason, he is going nowhere just yet.
What Madrid are looking to do here however, is again set up a very clever and beneficial handover system. As they will look to do with Camavinga and Pogba, Los Blancos will pair two more French generational talents in Benzema and Mbappe.
The duo have just started to play together on the international stage, and clicked effortlessly. Mbappe would fill a flanking position as part of the front three trident as he does currently at PSG, with Benzema central and a resurgent Vinicius Junior commanding the opposing wing.
The Spanish giants will be more than able to accommodate Mbappe both position-wise and salary-wise when Gareth Bale departs at the end of the season, while Madrid would still be left with the likes of Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio on the bench, along with Brazilian starlet Rodrygo Goes.
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