Real Madrid Transfers: 5 young center backs worth targeting
RB Leipzig CB Mohamed Simakan
With a final honorable mention to yet another Bundesliga central defender in Eintracht Frankfurt’s long-time standout Evan Ndicka, the final spot on this list of five young center backs goes to Josko Gvardiol’s more defensive teammate Mohamed Simakan.
Like Gvardiol, Simakan is a recent breakout star whose excellent work at Strasbourg earned him a big move to RB Leipzig in the last summer mercato. And Simakan has been as good as expected in the Bundesliga, rating highly among all the center backs in the league, regardless of age.
Simakan is no slouch on the ball himself with a pass completion percentage of 87 and 1.2 fouls drawn per game. He is a willing and able carrier of the ball, in addition to being a smart decision-maker with his passing.
Defensively, Simakan has massive upside with his physical tools and reading of the game. He can boss almost any forward and has the three combined tackles and interceptions per game in the Bundesliga to prove it. Simakan is only dribbled past 0.5 times per game.
Though there are still ways for the Frenchman to improve, Simakan has the tools and already has the awareness necessary to be a great third center back for Real Madrid. He could develop into a world-class center back with a well-rounded skill-set.
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At 21, Simakan is continuing to grow physically and mentally, and he should absolutely be among the players Los Blancos target in the summer window if they do decide to invest in a young, talented center back. Leipzig probably won’t want to sell him until later, having just bought him, but even in a future window, Simakan is a man for Real to strongly consider.