Real Madrid Transfers: Ranking the 5 best midfielders to buy

2. Manchester City AM Bernardo Silva

I cannot comprehend why Real Madrid have not shown more concrete interest in Bernardo Silva, unless they are playing the long game with Manchester City and waiting for the right moment to go after the Portugal international.

Silva has made it clear that he dreams of a Madrid move one day, like so many great players do. The Santiago Bernabeu is the pinnacle of football to many, and Silva is the kind of silky, technical player who would drop jaws a this venue.

For now, he has been one of the top players for a dominant City side in 2021/22, and he is a big reason why Pep Guardiola’s current team represents the manager’s best chance of finally winning the Champions League without Barcelona and Lionel Messi.

Silva is a right winger and forward by trade, but he has been a center midfielder this season for Guardiola and is actually playing the football of his life. Real Madrid are probably more interested in a 6 for Casemiro than a right-sided midfielder to replace Luka Modric – and really, Silva isn’t a Modric replacement. But offensively, he can bring the creativity and progression that would be missing, as we have seen with his current work at City.

So Silva is a dream target for many Madridistas and someone who can realistically be signed in the future, due to his affinity for the club. And perhaps Real Madrid are waiting for that opportune time – for when they know they have a hole that Silva can fill for them.