Although Real Madrid still have their legendary “KCM” midfield trio intact and two of the best young midfielders on the planet in Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, they are still expected to pursue another top midfielder in either the 2022 or 2023 transfer windows. There’s a chance that they could even sign a midfield in each window, especially if they end up saving money by not signing Erling Haaland to a mega-contract.
That remains to be seen, but we have already heard of several big names being linked to Los Merengues. There are other top midfielders who are on the wishlists of fans if they become available, though they may not necessarily be on Real’s radar as of right now.
So let’s take a look at the best five midfielders Real could potentially sign in the coming years. It is telling that several top names like Ryan Gravenberch and Youri Tielemans did not make the cut. There are a lot of excellent midfielders out there who could be available with the right persuasion.
5. West Ham DM Declan Rice
We begin with one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, Declan Rice. The young man keeps on improving, and he has clearly been worth the hype. Rice is just 23, but he is already one of the most consistent defensive midfielders in Europe. He is full of energy and is always there to break-up play. Maybe best of all for Madridistas, he was a huge David Beckham fan and says that Beckham in a Madrid kit was his favorite ever.
But before you get your hopes up, notice why he is only fifth on the list. He is basically unachievable. England internationals are hard to sign away from the Premier League due to the roster benefit they provide, and West Ham obviously know Rice is a special and rare commodity. Though the rumored 150 million euro figure is too outrageous, it’s clear that Rice would cost Real Madrid a fortune.
4. Bayer Leverkusen AM Florian Wirtz
The same can be said for Florian Wirtz, though. Bayer Leverkusen are throwing around a 150 million euro price tag for the phenomenal attacking midfielder, even though Wirtz recently suffered an ACL injury. I would assume he will be back and successful, but you can never assume with major injuries when so much money is at stake.
On the pitch, Wirtz is unquestionably special. It says something that he is even surpassing Kai Havertz at Leverkusen, given Havertz was also a rare talent for Die Werkself. Wirtz is a mature decision-maker and an exciting dribbler who carries the ball, makes progressive passes, creates goals, and can finish off a chance in or outside the box.
Real Madrid are always on the lookout for the best young players in the world – players who can become superstars. Wirtz is very much one of those and as a teenager is already among the ranks of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Erling Haaland as a top-five player in the world under the age of 25.
His numbers in the Bundesliga before the season-ending injury were outrageous. Wirtz had 7 goals and 10 assists with 2.5 key passes per game and 2.3 dribbles completed per game. He also averaged more than three key passes per game in the Europa League. Wirtz is a young leader and a modern-day playmaker – the kind of all-around attacking midfielder who can even be a midfielder in a flat three.
Real will play a different kind of football by the time Wirtz becomes a part of the equation. He is a target for 2023 and someone I could see the three biggest traditional clubs in Europe – Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid – fighting hard over next year.
3. Inter Milan CM Nicolo Barella
How can anyone not love Nicolo Barella’s game? The fiery Inter Milan midfielder is the definition of an elite competitor, and he is such an important player to the Nerazzurri. Every time I watch him play, I come away impressed with his command of matches and his energy. He is one of those midfielders who will fight for every loose ball but can also come up with a pass of such stunning technical quality and invention that you almost wonder if you are watching the more romantic 2000’s era of football.
The world-class Italian international burst onto the scene as the best midfielder in Serie A last season, and while his 2021/22 season has not been quite as remarkable, Barella has still remained productive despite Inter taking a step back from their 2020/21 second-half dominance.
Barella has 2 goals and a whopping 9 assists this season for Inter, averaging 1.6 key passes per game in Serie A and 2.2 per game in the Champions League before his team’s Round of 16 exit to Liverpool. The 25-year-old is also averaging 1.7 tackles per game in the Italian top flight and had 2.5 tackles per game in the Champions League.
Entering his peak, Barella is one of those players who could explode at a club like Real Madrid, where his passing would be rewarded with more assists. And you know Real love their midfielders who are willing to defend and create. Look no further than the heights and plaudits Luka Modric has achieved, including the Ballon d’Or.
Obviously, Barella is no Modric, but to many Madridistas, he is the closest thing to the Croatian magician. Fans of Italian football have sung the praises of Barella for more than a year, and anyone who is still sleeping on him is seriously out of the loop. If Inter’s financial troubles worsen and they are set for another firesale, Real Madrid must be attentive to this world-class midfielder.
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.
1. Monaco DM Aurelien Tchouameni
You could actually argue that Aurelien Tchouameni is the least accomplished, least hyped, and maybe even the “worst” player of the five on this list, but I think when you look at all the factors Real Madrid are looking at, he is the best option in midfield. And therefore, that is the reason why he is the player Madrid have been driving after the hardest, to the point where they may even have personal terms agreed with him.
Convincing Tchouameni to join Real Madrid is the easy part. Getting him to come in 2022 is more difficult and depends on how hard of a bargain Monaco drive. Chelsea looked like the top contenders, but with a reported transfer ban due to Roman Abramovich, the coast could be clear for Madrid to sign Ligue 1’s most promising midfielder. It is hard to see Monaco selling him to PSG, though the Parisians must be seen as a threat.
Los Blancos will have competition, but as we saw with the bargain Eduardo Camavinga signing in 2021, they are almost always the favorites for top young talent. The Real Madrid allure is far too strong in most cases.
Imagine the honor Tchouameni would have of playing with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro and then eventually starting with Fede Valverde and Camavinga in the next legendary Real Madrid midfield trio. How can you even describe that?
Tchouameni’s defensive numbers this season in Ligue 1, his ball security, and his progression make him the perfect 6 for the modern game. He can even surpass Casemiro’s legacy if the young man’s development at Real Madrid goes to plan, given what he is already doing at a Monaco side that has its structural issues (still can’t believe they fired Niko Kovac).
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Looking at fit, cost, age, and upside, Tchouameni is the right pick. Nicolo Barella and Bernardo Silva are the superstars, but Tchouameni can reach those heights. As Casemiro can attest, the men who focus on defending in midfield are the easiest for the mainstream to underrate anyway.