The European Championship is into its knockout stages. As such, all major European Clubs would be making their final calls on which player they’d pursue and which they won’t. Real Madrid with their new boss, Carlo Ancelotti would also be having a hawk’s eye on their transfer targets.
Real Madrid’s midfield is one with lesser issues. The club is particularly set at making an attacking addition to their squad. But, several flexible players like Isco and Asensio are indeed on the probable out-goings list and there would be a need for a defensive addition to Madrid’s midfield. Keeping everything in mind, here is a list of 5 players ranked who has impressed me enough to suggest them as possible Real Madrid transfer targets in midfield.
5. Portugal CM Renato Sanches
The first player on this list is a classic European resurrection story. Renato Sanches, who has visible hard times settling in his football career has finally found a home in the Ligue 1 outfit, Lille. The development of his game is visible in the performances he has put for Portugal in the European Championships.
Though Renato’s journey in the tournament came to an end, he exhibited that his renaissance was a total success. He played in all four games, the first two as a substitute. After he was impressed with his ball control in a game that ended in a humiliating defeat to Germany, he was finally called into the starting XI and he maintained that until Portugal’s campaign ended.
Sanches has exhibited some serious ball-keeping abilities. He is sharp on the ball with a great amount of strength and balance. He has the ability to dribble past defenders and make great runs straight down the middle. Something that stood out among the limited times that he appeared was his long balls. Though he didn’t complete the full game even once, he has 14 successful long balls to show under his belt, per WhoScored.
He pumps energy whenever he gets on the ball. His strength makes him deadly in ground duels. His movements and turns are swift and he looked very positive on the ball, always looking to go forward and punish the opposition. Any club would be happy to have him in their squad. His passionate displays for his nation have invited some transfer interest and he deserves to have a spot on this list of Real Madrid targets.
4. France AM Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba isn’t a too alien name for Madridistas. He has been on and off Real Madrid’s radar. Once again, Paul Pogba has been putting in his fair share of good work for the French outfit who would be one of the favorites to win the European Championships. The Manchester United man has played all three of France’s games and maintained an overall rating of 7.31, per WhoScored.
Paul Pogba is a certified star of the game, a big-name player. And, for players of his caliber, it is increasingly hard because the fans expect nothing short of commanding wins after wins. And, Pogba didn’t disappoint. He produced an absolute masterclass against Germany, their Euro Opener.
He exhibited examples of why he still is one of the best vertical passers of football. His vision and ball carrying were unparalleled. His Modric-Esque out-of-boot pass resulted in the only goal of the match. In the end, that remained the single crucial touch of the match that was the difference between the two sides.
France is yet to lose a game where both he and N’Golo Kante have started. This just goes to say that he shines better when he has hardworking partners around. In Real Madrid, he would have the likes of Casemiro and Fede Valverde to help him out in that department. Though a tall ask for a transfer, Paul Pogba is someone I’d someday like to see in the Royal White kit.
And as far as his spot in this list is concerned, according to me, he ticks all of the boxes for me to include him as an impressive transfer target. He is a star of the game, can add to the club’s commercial armory and he is a talented attacking player. He is the sort of player Ancelotti could work with and develop into a replacement for Luka Modric.
3. Netherlands CM Ryan Gravenberch
Another one of the players whose tournament came to an end is Netherland’s youngster, Ryan Gravenberch. I previously wrote that Ryan Gravenberch could be one of the midfielders to monitor on the transfer market for the summer’s transfer window where I specifically highlighted why he makes sense for Real Madrid. And, his performances in the European Championships have only strengthened my views of him.
Ryan only made two appearances in the competition, one out of which was as a substitute. His limited game time is understandable, he is just 19 years old and the Dutch midfield houses some real talent. Even then, securing two caps for his nation is a big deal for a teenager.
Performance-wise Ryan has been brilliant. Focusing on the only full match that he played, a 3-0 win over the underdogs North Macedonia, he had a brilliant all-around display. His passes were accurate and he could register one key pass and one long ball too. Offensively, he was dribbling, taking on shots, twisting, and turning inside the box. He breathed confidence throughout his time on the pitch.
His defensive abilities too spoke for themselves. He registered three successful tackles, four interceptions, and also a crucial block. Now, if those aren’t all-around stats, I don’t know what is. In his 16-minute cameo against Austria too, he pitched in well defensively with three interventions that included a crucial clearance.
Overall, he is a bankable player. At 19 years of age, he has surprised the football community with his game time for his club, Ajax, and now, he did decently for his country too. He would surely be one of those young investments any club would be happy to make and he deserves to have a spot on this list.
2. Italy AM Nicolo Barella
Nicolo Barella has been on and off the discussion. He is a great player who could be targeted as a realistic replacement for the aging Luka Modric. I previously placed him at the bottom of the list prioritizing transfer targets for Real Madrid. At the Euros too, the story hasn’t been very different. Barella has been one of the hardest workers for the Azzurri.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy has very much cruised into the knockouts after winning all of their group stage games. One of the main reasons behind such a commanding run in the Championships so far has been Italy’s control of the midfield. And, the Italian Champion, Nicolo Barella has been a prime pillar of the said midfield.
Barella has been a true hard worker. He has won as many as five free-kicks for his team so far in the tournament. He also has an assist to his name and has been very bright on the passing front having a total of 5 key passes in the tournament so far, per WhoScored.
His ball carrying and ball control has been top-notch. He has played three out of the four games Italy has played so far. The one he didn’t play was the one where he was rested for the knockouts after their qualification was secured after two back-to-back wins.
This again goes to show how important of an asset he is. He would be a similar asset to any club too. Overall, Barella’s efforts have impressed me enough to place him so high up this list. He has been in the discussion and could be targeted as a possible Modric replacement in the summer’s transfer window or the near future.
1. Italy AM Manuel Locatelli
Nicolo Barella would be a more realistic fit for Real Madrid but the man riding atop this list left me no room for negotiations. From a transfer target point of view, no other midfielder has been as impressive as Italy’s Manuel Locatelli. The 23-year-old Sassuolo man has been one of the best players of the tournament so far.
As mentioned earlier, Italy’s midfield has been a strong point of their campaign. Much like Barella, this man too has been a crucial pillar. He produced a strong display in the tournament opener against Turkey. He kept things alive in the midfield and brought his colleagues into their moves. But little did we know, the show was still to be seen.
He brought out his very best in the second game against Switzerland scoring his first-ever brace. For his and Italy’s first, he started the move with a pin-point pass to Domenico Beradi. The move was completed after he rushed in to make a subtle tap-in finish. His second was a left-footed strike from distance. He was then rested for the game against Wales after their qualification was secured with two wins in two matches.
He joined in their Round of 16 tie against Austria as a substitute. In his limited game time, he clearly made some serious impact attempting long balls and placing key passes. He was one of those who inspired for a fight and took Italy into the quarter-finals. As such, eyes would once again be focused on him for the rest of the tournament. Without any doubts, he deserves to be on the top of this list for Real Madrid.