Real Madrid are reportedly in the transfer market this time with a big purse aiming for the likes of Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé. While the media has been extremely proactive on these names, the Madrid side has also taken strides elsewhere in their bid to make a compact team next season.
Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos has been on the radar of Real Madrid as Zidane tries to pursue the Argentine to join his side. However, the recent development would not please the French manager too much as according to Muchodeporte, as cited by Le10sports, Monchi, the Director of Football of Sevilla, has played down the rumour stating that they are not negotiating with Real Madrid for the player.
The rise of Lucas Ocampos
Starting his career at River Plate, Ocampos got a taste of European football when he joined Monaco in 2012. After a couple of decent seasons there, he joined Marseille in 2015, initially on loan and later on a permanent basis. He spent four years with the French club, which included a couple of loans spells to Genoa and Milan.
Eventually, last summer the 25-year-old signed permanently with Sevilla, where he has really flourished. This season he has played in 22 league matches for the Spanish side and scored ten times in the process, thus establishing himself as one of the most potent wingers in the league.
What can Lucas Ocampos offer?
Ocampos primarily operates as a right-winger, although he can fill in the left-wing slot as well. Adept at playing with both his feet, he can cut inside from the wings and take a shot at the goal himself. His creative spark in the final third has been one of the main reasons behind this Sevilla side outperforming all expectations and remaining at the third position in the league table before the postponement of the league. Ocampos is a well-built player who does not shy away from making challenges, and the physicality of his game makes him a menace for opposition defenders.
Should Real Madrid go for him?
At this moment, Zinedine Zidane has Rodrygo, Lucas Vázquez and Gareth Bale as his right-wing options. Gareth Bale is way past his prime, and it is only a matter of time before Los Blancos ship him out. Rodrygo, on the other hand, has had a rollercoaster of a season after his big-money move from Brazil.
That leaves Vázquez as the only option, although the Spaniard has spent a considerable amount of time this season on the sidelines being injured. Therefore, Ocampos could walk right into the team. If he can replicate the form that he has displayed for Sevilla, then Zidane would have a formidable attack with Hazard and Ocampos as the wingers.
