Real Madrid cannot claim to be in good shape in midfield as they have to make do with ageing players at vital positions. To establish their authority in Spain and Europe, they need to have a reinforced squad and midfield would be one of the primary areas where the Madrid side could strengthen.
With that intention, the club had identified Rennes youngster Eduardo Camavinga, but now Sport claims that the French outfit are willing to keep hold of their man. Amid the global pandemic and the financial crisis that this situation has brought, Los Blancos cannot be expected to spend a ludicrous sum of money for a player who is still unproven at the topmost level, requiring the management to shift their attention elsewhere. We take a look at the other options that Real Madrid have at their disposal if they miss out on the starlet.
Paul Pogba
If the Madrid side miss out on the younger Frenchman, they always have the option to go back to the more experienced France international. Manchester United should be willing to part ways with this ex-Juventus star, provided they can recoup a substantial amount of money that they had spent on him. Although he was brought in to be the creative outlet of the club, the United star has been a pale shadow of his Turin days.
Pogba’s attitude has also been a problem, and he has looked extremely unsettled in England. Injuries have played a big part in his downfall as the 27-year-old has missed a large chunk of the action in the Premier League. There is no denying his talent though, and a move to Spain under a French legend could be the boost that the player needs to revive his career.
Donny van de Beek
This one is a more likely option as the Ajax man could still head to the Madrid based club in the summer ahead of a move to Spain, although early indications are otherwise. He has been instrumental behind the success of the Dutch club and has displayed that his versatility could be an asset for any side. Last season when De Jong was in the team, the 23-year-old was deployed at a more advanced role. However, the transfer of the youngster to Barcelona has meant that Van de Beek was used more as a defensive cover.
In both the seasons, he has performed with equal aplomb, and if a move to Real happens for the Dutch player, he could be the long term solution in the midfield for Zidane. The combination of Casemiro, Van de Beek and Kroos could be the right balance between youthful exuberance and experience, a perfect recipe for success.
Luka Modric
The Croat has been serving the club for a long time and earned the admiration of the manager and the supporters alike. However, he is already 34, and sooner than later, it will be time for him to hang up his boots. Going into the new season with Modric as a key figure to Zidane’s plans might be a tad risky, but the veteran midfielder has shown time and again that it is always too early to rule him out. Even this season, he has featured in 23 league matches for Real successfully passing the ball 88.3% of the time. Even at this age, he can keep the possession intact for his side at the centre of the pitch and make an incisive pass to the forwards. Till the time the gaffer does not identify an able replacement, Modric would be a perfect man to do the job for his team.
Stats via Whoscored.
