CB Mohammed Salisu
Real Madrid won’t be desperate to sign a center back this summer, since they have the quartet of Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Eder Militao, and Nacho Fernandez in the squad. Nacho could be on his way out, though, so adding a modest signing to the defense would be wise. Center back is an area where depth could be needed, even though Ramos and Varane are still going strong as the world’s best duo.
Dayot Upamecano would be the best available target for Real Madrid, but he may be close to signing with Bayern Munich for more than 50 million euros. So even if Upamecano is available for Zinedine Zidane to swoop, he will be costly as one of the best young defenders in Europe.
A cheaper alternative whom Zidane reportedly likes is Real Valladolid’s Mohammed Salisu. He is one of La Liga’s best defenders and certainly impressed Madridistas with his hard work and crucial interventions, as Los Blancos barely scratched a 1-0 win over his side in the second half of the season.
Salisu would only cost Real Madrid 12 million euros, making him a bargain. He and Militao, who impressed in his first season with the club after joining for 50 million euros from FC Porto, could be starters themselves. However, they would be brilliant backups. Salisu is a brilliant, tenacious 21-year-old defender worth praising highly.