Real Madrid Transfers: 5 defenders to target heading into 2021

Jules Kounde (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Jules Kounde (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
4 of 6
Monaco, Benoit Badiashile
Monaco, Benoit Badiashile (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

Monaco CB Benoit Badiashile

Just 19 years old, AS Monaco center back Benoit Badiashile may be the best possible signing for Zinedine Zidane from a value perspective. He might not cost much more than 30 million euros and could be an excellent center back in the future.

The issue with signing a player like Badiashile is that it’s already hard enough for Eder Militao to get minutes at Real Madrid. He’s played even less often than Luka Jovic, so that about sums it up. So if he’s struggling to get on the field, would someone even younger be able to get the minutes he needs that are so crucial to his development?

Badiashile has some similarities to Kounde, in the sense that the current Ligue 1 standout is very smart for his age and both good on the ball and in the air. He fits the profile of what Zidane and Real look for in a center back.

This season, Badiashile has scored two goals in Ligue 1 with nearly 90 percent of his passes completed. He is averaging 1.8 interceptions per game and is extremely difficult to get by. His numbers are eerily similar to Raphael Varane’s, so perhaps that is why he’s been compared to the current Real Madrid superstar so frequently.