Real Madrid are keen to bolster at centre-back next summer as Xabi Alonso prepares for a host of key decisions.
Veteran duo David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are both out of contract in June 2026 with the former certain to move on.
The Los Blancos hierarchy are open to offering Rudiger a one-year renewal, as per the stance on players aged 30+, but that is far from certain due to his injury record.
Eder Militao’s return to fitness has been a boost alongside the form of new signing Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio in Madrid.
Alonso is looking to bring in two new faces to fill the void left by Alaba, and potentially Rudiger, but he is on the hunt for bargains.
After signing Rudiger on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022, Real Madrid have landed several free agents/reduced deals, including Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Premier League pair Ibrahima Konate and Marc Guehi are on Alonso’s hit list, with their contracts at Liverpool and Crystal Palace expiring in June, and the latter is rumoured to be preferring a move to Madrid over a switch to Anfield.
As per the latest update from Marca, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano is now on Alonso’s radar, as he looks to leave Bavaria next summer as a free agent.
The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Madrid prior to joining Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig in 2021, but the situation is back on the table, as he sees a future away from Germany.
Alonso must now make a call between the options available to him in the free transfer market and the picture looks positive for Real Madrd.
The determination to wait for contracts to run down has become a frequent tactic on key targets and the club are ready to use it once again in 2026.
The patience of Real Madrid to spend money and wait for good deals in contrast to Barcelona’s rush to spend money they do not have is the difference in sustainable, long term excellence in front office management of Los Blancos.
It is critical for Barca to replace President Joan Laporta in the upcoming election with someone who is more competent in long term financial planning and shows the patience of Real Madrid in acquiring players on the cheap.