Real Madrid Transfers: 5 under-the-radar moves to consider in 2021

RB Leipzig CB Ibrahima Konate

RB Leipzig center back Dayot Upamecano was linked to Real Madrid several times in the past year, but he has agreed to a deal with Bayern Munich for the 2021-2022 season and beyond after Die Roten met his 42.5 million euro release clause.

His teammate Ibrahima Konate has been held back by injuries this season, but before Upamecano returned to form in 2019-2020, he was playing at a higher level in the 2018-2019 season. Konate was beating Robert Lewandowski in one-on-one battles and establishing himself as not just one of the best center backs in the Bundesliga, but also one of the best central defenders in European football as a whole.

Konate’s injuries make him a risk, but since his price tag could be around 15 million euros cheaper than Upamecano’s, he may be a risk worth taking for Real Madrid.

Hopefully, Los Merengues don’t need to sign a center back this summer. Hopefully, Sergio Ramos re-signs shortly, and Raphael Varane signs an extension before Los Blancos even have to consider selling the superstar center back.

But if they do need a center back, Konate has to be on the radar of Madridistas. He is still just 21 and one of the best pure defenders in the Bundesliga, which is a highly attacking league. Konate has all the tools to be a world-class center back.