Real Madrid Transfers: 3 defensive sleepers to watch this summer

Real Madrid won’t have much room to maneuver in the transfer market this summer, and they are mostly focused on signing Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, with the latter being a significantly more realistic option for the cash-strapped club.

But Real do have other needs elsewhere in their squad besides the attack, and defense could be a pressing area of concern if Sergio Ramos does not stay or Raphael Varane must be sold.

Here are three “sleeper” transfer targets for Real Madrid to consider signing this summer if they can’t break the bank for someone like Jules Kounde.

Monaco CB Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile was linked to Real Madrid last summer, though the trail has seemingly gone cold on the AS Monaco man. In spite of the lack of rumors linking the Royal Whites to a center back once compared to Raphael Varane, Real should remain interested in the 19-year-old.

Despite his young age, Badiashile is one of the best ball-playing center backs in Ligue 1 and reads the game brilliantly. Per WhoScored.com, he is averaging about 70 passes per game for Monaco this season. Badiashile averages 1.8 interceptions per game and is dribbled past fewer than 0.5 times per match.

He would be a wise investment for Los Blancos, particularly if they can get him for 30 million euros or less. Badiashile could cost half as much as Kounde, and while he’s not quite as highly regarded, he is an excellent young center back in his own right.