Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane should be careful in the summer window

A closer look at what Real Madrid and manager Zinedine Zidane should be mindful of in the coming summer window, amidst umpteen transfer rumors.

It is that time of the year. Transfer rumors are flying left, right, and center. More so for Real Madrid since this season has shown that the squad is in urgent need of an overhaul.

So, every half-decent player and his neighbor is being linked to Real Madrid. Every day there is speculation around some agent offering his/her player to Madrid or of a player expressing his desire to play for Madrid, either publicly or in his private circle. Numbers to the tune of €500 million are being thrown around as the transfer budget for Zidane.

We know enough to not believe most of the things being ‘reported’ until an official announcement is made. However, the club has a history of making impulse purchases and buying big names even if they don’t fit in the overall scheme of things. James Rodriguez is a prime example of this. Therefore, below are a few things the club should be mindful of as they plan for the transfer window.

Identify key gaps in the squad, buy accordingly

The current season was a wash for Real Madrid primarily for two reasons: 1. the lack of consistent goal scorer and 2. the shaky and at times shambolic defense. There is some explanation for the lack of goals – Real Madrid sold the best goalscorer in the history of the club and didn’t bring in any meaningful replacements.

However, I am at my wit’s end to understand why the defensive performance has been so underwhelming this season. While consistency and clean sheets have never been a key trait of this defensive line-up, they have previously managed to rise to the occasion when it mattered the most. They were most certainly not caught out of position so often and looked so tentative at the back, as they have this season.

Therefore, the signing of the young center back, Eder Militao was a great way to start the transfer business. Captain Sergio Ramos is not getting any younger and the club needs a quality back-up to transition from him.

Nacho has been nothing short of woeful this season, so he isn’t fit to take up that role anymore. There are reports that Madrid may still look at another young CB, which may be a good move too. Speculations regarding Raphael Varane seem just like how they sound, speculations.

Rafa Varane is most likely in a play for a better and longer contract, which should be sealed. With Álvro Odriozola and Sergio Reguilón, Los Blancos have the fullback positions covered too. They may even stake claim to the starting berth next season, and bench Marcelo and Dani Carvajal.

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Clearly, one of the key gaps is more or less sorted. However, the same cannot be said for the other key gap, the biggest gap rather. Goal-scoring.

Some of the forwards that Real Madrid has been linked with are Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr., Harry Kane, Mauro Icardi, Sadio Mane, Eden Hazard, and even Luka Jovic. Problem is, some of them are unattainable this season and the others don’t solve the club’s main problem, which is lack of goals.

The chances of landing either Neymar or Mbappe are next to impossible unless they are unhappy in Paris. But, both have confirmed that they will stay at PSG next season. Players like Hazard are great playmakers, but would they score 30 goals a season? Questionable.

Real Madrid needs a leader in attack, to build their forward line around. That is the biggest gap and the most important signing that the club needs to make. Ideally, two goal-scoring attacking players would be great, of course, assuming they sell Gareth Bale.

If they continue to rely on the notion that the midfielders and existing squad players will step up with the goals, and that they don’t need meaningful reinforcement, then the fans should get ready for another disastrous season.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the forward signings will define the next few seasons for Real Madrid. All eyes are on Zidane and president Florentino Perez for this, and to see who is the chosen one for this role.