Staff Round-table: Real Madrid’s winter window transfers wishlist
The Real Champs’ staff put together a wish-list of everything we want for Real Madrid from the January transfer window. Who should Madrid sign?
So, half the season is over, and it is fair to say that Real Madrid have been pretty average. They haven’t been clinical, they haven’t looked motivated at times, the squad depth has come into question and the tactics have been beyond questionable. They are miles behind Barcelona in the league, they haven’t looked convincing in the Champions League. The three trophies this season don’t hide the fact that Real Madrid have only played to their potential a total of 5/6 times. And two of those trophies came from these performances only.
The summer transfer business shoulders some of the blame, as does Zidane. But enough has been said about that. So, the staff at The Real Champs decided to focus on what can be done come winter window.
Aakanksha Sharma – Staff Writer
If I could go back in time and reverse most of the summer transfer window decisions, I would love to. But sadly, that’s not possible. So, we will have to make do with whatever we can in the winter window.
Striker
It is no secret that the biggest challenge for Madrid this season has been goal-scoring. And I would put the maximum blame on Benzema. His absolute ineffectiveness in front on goal has led to all the pressure coming on Ronaldo. And even Ronaldo can’t do everything. So, my number 1 priority for the winter window is a quality world-class striker. Sadly, there are very few such players who would be available in the winter window. But Madrid needs to try. If Barca can go for a stiker the quality of Griezmann, why can’t Madrid do the same with a striker like Salah? Perez needs to get in the Perez mode and get what Madrid wants.
Goal-keeper
Secondly, I maintain that Keylor Navas should not remain the first-choice keeper for Real Madrid for long, especially in crucial CL fixtures. My first choice will always be De Gea, but he isn’t going to come mid-season. Or even in the summer it seems, given how poorly Real Madrid have handled his situation. If Kepa is available, Madrid needs to grab him. If he is not available, they need to pull a trick out of their hat and still grab him. If Madrid wants to have any shot at the Champions League, they need a quality keeper who is consistent and isn’t prone to making silly errors as Navas is. But my heart will still pine for De Gea, he’s at Neuer’s level right now.
Centre-back
Another challenge plaguing this side is the lack of defensive depth. Letting Coentrao and Danillo leave was understandable, but letting Pepe go without having an experienced centre-back as replacement was shooting themselves in the foot again. Ideally, I would like them to strengthen that department.
So, to summarize, if Madrid wants to effectively challenge for the Champions League (La Liga is out of reach in my view), they need to bolster the squad in these three departments.
Alex McVey – Editor
My Real Madrid Christmas wish list is simple this year: I want Perez to sign one goalkeeper (probably Kepa), and one striker (I don’t really care who, but I’ve published a list of possibilities here). I would take David Luiz as a bonus. But we are mostly set in defence. At this point, Madrid don’t need to be picky. We need to fortify the offense, and get a better backup keeper than Casilla. However we go about doing that, I’m OK.
Ben Sundock – Editor
The ending of the 2017 calendar showed us one thing that is very clear: Real Madrid do not have the attacking depth they possessed in last season’s La Liga triumph and they won’t win another title until they do.
Goal-scorer
The first, and most important business Los Blancos need to do in January is find a consistent goal scorer who can either be the back up to Karim Benzema or become the go-to man because plain and simple, Benz isn’t getting it done. I would be very interested in Real pursuing someone like Timo Werner or Mauro Icardi. Both have that finishing touch, pace, and link up skills needed to succeed.
Goal-keeper
After getting a striker, Madrid needs a goalkeeper who is a consistent brick-wall. I’m very intrigued by the possibility of Kepa signing for the team, becoming the backup, and slowly working his way up to the starting role when Keylor Navas is deemed unfit for the position.
Centre-back
Although I wouldn’t say it’s a top priority, a depth centre-back player would be a welcome sight. Nacho is the first substitute option off the bench, and he does a fantastic job filling in for Varane and Ramos when needed, but Jesus Vallejo is just too young to be doing the same thing. I’m not exactly sure who would be a good option, but another young, high potential centre-back would be a great addition as well.
Otherwise, I think this team has the talent to win several titles. They have shown it over the last 18 months or so. They just need to rediscover their identity.
Hasan Karim – Staff Writer
With such an underwhelming beginning to the start of the 2017/18 season, it is clear to see just how much of a poor window Madrid had in the summer. Despite signings with big potential in the future, none of them have replaced the quality of outgoing stars. Alongside that issue, Zidane has barely given any of them a chance showing he has little faith in his bench. Something the team was fabled for last season.
With the winter break now upon us following a frustrating Clasico loss – it is imperative that the players are brought in who can cause an impact on this floundering season.
Goal-keeper
One aspect that the team is in desperate need of is a quality option between the sticks. Kiko Casilla has not been up to the job since he joined the club and Keylor Navas is a divisive figure. Whilst the Costa Rican has been consistent, his frequent bad runs of form have led the fan base to question his level.
It appears that Madrid have agreed on Kepa as that replacement and a deal seems imminent in the transfer window. Whilst he may not be the number one from the get go – he’s a much more solid option than Casilla and will likely succeed Navas next season.
Attacking mid-fielder
Another aspect that the team is severely lacking is options in the attacking side of midfield, particularly the wide areas. Ronaldo isn’t the same marauding winger he once was, Bale isn’t always available, and the only other options are Asensio, Isco and Vazquez. The former two are not actual wide players but rather players doing a job in those positions.
A player that Madrid could target in that respect could be somebody like Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao. The young Spaniard is a winger by nature, but his versatility means he can also play as a striker. The Bilbao player is young and has many years ahead of him. He’s been a mainstay in the line-up for a couple of years now and is an option that Perez and Zidane should consider. His sheer pace, great strength and intensity is something the side could use in games where they want to up the ante.
Kristofer McCormack – Staff Writer
Goal-keeper
Rarely in January does a club have a chance to make a long-term signing. In Kepa, Madrid have been given this opportunity. Due to commitments to other sites, I have watched a lot of Athletic Bilbao this season and there haven’t been many bright spots except for the man between the sticks. Kepa is young, affordable, and as soon as he recovers from a broken foot, could walk into this line-up, he’s been that good for the Basques this season. I can still forgive Madrid for the summer, I won’t forgive the club if they pass up on such a talented goalkeeper this winter.
Striker
I remember in Mourinho’s first year, he brought Adebayor to Madrid on loan. I think Higuain got injured and he wanted an option to replace Benzema if things weren’t working out. Adebayor wasn’t a flashy arrival, but, he filled Mourinho’s needs perfectly and performed well as a rotation. I think Zidane could do with such a player like that this season.
Aspas scored nearly 20 goals for Celta Vigo last season, he has scored 9 so far, this season. In the highly unlikely circumstance he wanted to leave Celta, he would be content to act as a backup, while having the ability to change games when brought on. As I’ve already said, he’s unlikely to want to leave his hero status at Vigo for the Madrid bench, but, he is simply an example of a player I would love to see Madrid buy up front this season. Cheap, experienced rotation option for games where our forwards aren’t playing well.
Sunil Gurubhagwatla – Staff Writer
Goal-scorer
Real have lacked goals this season, plain and simple. This team always scores by the heap and this season it is not happening at all. A lot can be attributed to the finishing of Benzema and Ronaldo, however, there has been the luck factor marring the team as well. Having said that, Benzema specifically has been poor in major stretches of the games. I believe we need a player equal to the caliber of Benzema, so that it doesn’t impact the chemistry that Ronaldo prefers with his No. 9.
I would prefer having Dybala or Icardi in the Real Madrid forward line. However, Icardi is a much more attainable target. Somehow, I do not see him as a long term Real Madrid player – just the gut feel. However, he is just 24 and is one of the deadliest No. 9s around. Worth the investment!
Goal-keeper
Ever since Navas replaced Casillas, the Real Madrid faithful have had second thoughts about him. Agreed that he has fared well between the sticks and has been good in patches, but we need a better goalkeeper. Someone who is assuring enough, and the fans do not sweat at every chance created by the opposition.
Real Madrid have been flirting with De Gea, Courtois and Kepa. De Gea seems like a far-fetched dream as United are quite troublesome with transfers. Courtois is attainable for sure and is in the same league as De Gea, if not better, but will not be available before next summer. Going by the current goalkeeping standards at Real Madrid, I am sure Perez wouldn’t wait for things to come crashing down on him by the end of the season.
Kepa, if reports are to be believed, is mostly likely to be Real’s new goalkeeper. He is mature for his age and has the potential to be one of the world’s best. He has shown repeatedly that he is uncomfortable with crosses, but I am sure that can be worked upon. It is a win-win for everyone as he will need time to integrate into the team and it will allow Navas to slowly transition out.
Mushtaq Nizamdin – Staff Writer
Optimism, naivety, ridiculous, call it what you want but Real Madrid will be just fine. That’s not to say improvements can’t be made but I believe that Real can win three titles with the squad we have.
This past summer transfer window, Real Madrid unloaded many players from various positions. Alvaro Morata, though, is the player who is missed the most by fans and quite possibly Zidane, which he probably would not admit. We have struggled early on this season and having the Spanish striker around would be great, but the same thing happened last year. Having Morata around as a backup is always a great asset but Madrid can still make a comeback and take La Liga by the horns.
There were recurring themes from last season that drove the success of Los Blancos to a historical back to back Champions League titles as well as a La Liga title. ‘Two squads’ was something that was brought up again and again by analysts, the unofficial Team A and Team B. This method also helped foster rotations in the squad. With a bench that was just oozing talent, it only made sense for Zidane to rest some of Madrid’s bigger names against teams who were much lower down on the table.
While everyone may have suggestions of players to purchase that can help this squad, here are five players who, if given more playing time, will help steer this ship in the right direction.
Marco Asensio
Quite frankly, I feel like I can just put that header there and let it speak for itself. Still confused as to what I am saying? Marco Asensio has scored a goal in his debut game in every competition for Real Madrid, that right there is an out of this world statistic.
Asensio has had time to play this year but like I said, let’s give him some more time Zizou! Substituting him in for a mid-fielder to add more threat in attack is always a great option. His linkup with other players, amazing touch and dribbling has bamboozled defensive lines from Bayern Munich to Barcelona.
Vicente Del Bosque, like many other analysts and former players, has spoken highly of the young Spaniard, stating that he is one for the future. I think we are already in that future.
Lucas Vazquez
Here is another Spaniard who is full of talent and changes the dynamic of the Madrid attack immensely. Vazquez is a player who is generally overlooked by fans, and part of that is because we don’t get to see him all that much. Lucas had a good run of games with consistent playing time, but this season hasn’t been the same.
Vazquez is usually played as a right winger cutting in centrally when the wing is shut down. He may not have Gareth Bale speeds, but he possesses good footwork and the ability to whip in an accurate ball with pace. He’s been a smart player – not forcing the attack, going with quality and possession rather than an absentminded cross or pass.
Mateo Kovacic
In the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona, we saw his darting movements on the ball like a squirrel on a telephone wire. Most of Madrid’s attack comes through the wings. But with Kovacic and his quick one-two passes as well as solo runs through three / four defenders, he brings in a whole new dimension to the game, leaving his opponents’ midfield and defense startled.
The younger Croatian on the Real squad didn’t have the start to the season that he would have wanted. He picked up an injury that took him some time to recover fully. Now that he is back and fit, using him to tear up the midfield is ideal. Especially when a player such as Isco is not being able to get the ball rolling, preferably into the net of course.
Borja Mayoral
From the get go, everyone has been giving the young man flack, bringing up his less than impressive statistics of his time in the Bundesliga. He’s been belittled for not having the impact that Alvaro Morata had, coming off the bench.
Mayoral is in the bottom half of minutes played this season, with reason of course. He is still young and may not possess the in-game IQ that some of his counterparts do. Rather than focusing on what he may be lacking, why not exploit what he does possess, his hunger to get his foot on the ball in and around the box.
He has scored some sweet goals this season and with his only competition being Karim Benzema, who had been sub-par for most of this season, giving Mayoral more minutes is no harm done. Borja would be an absolute nuisance for defenders, opening up more space for other attackers like Ronaldo and Bale.
Gareth Bale
If it wasn’t for the Club World Cup, you probably would have forgotten about him by now. Even if you haven’t, you probably just rolled your eyes for me making him an option. Say what you will, but the Welshman has been a factor in Madrid’s success for the better part of his time there.
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Pace, dribble, and excellent passing, there are many teams that would want a healthy Bale, including Real Madrid. But let’s look at this scenario without all your predispositions of Gareth because I know you still happily use him on FIFA 18 to terrorize the right wing against your opponents.
The BBC may not have been as fruitful in the past but let us focus on the here and now. Playing Bale gets the game moving faster, often faster than defenders can handle. At full speed with the ball, he requires his opponents to sacrifice one, if not two, extra defenders to either take the ball from him or blatantly commit a foul. Drawing in other players means creating more opportunity for goals, something Madrid could really use this season.
To summarize, Real Madrid are sitting in fourth place, some distance behind league leaders Barcelona, with everything to win, making it Barcelona’s title to lose. So, if not now, then when? This is the time to take risks and go against the conventional starting XI. These five players each change the dynamic of the team, making Madrid less predictable to their opponents and more threatening.
Next: Could Kane or Icardi be off to Real Madrid?