Real Madrid need more defensive depth in the summer 2022 transfer window. In Eder Militao and David Alaba, Los Blancos have one of the best center back duos on the planet, but they don’t have much depth behind those two players. Nacho Fernandez is the only experienced backup, and while the likes of Rafa Marin have promise, can the Merengues really trust that group if something were to happen to both Militao and Alaba?
As reliable as these two are and as infrequently as they are out, Militao’s absence against Chelsea due to suspension provided an example of how fine the margins are at center back – and how important it is to have depth there.
Free agent Antonio Rudiger remains a favorite to join Real Madrid in 2022, but what if Los Blancos would prefer to invest in someone younger who can rise up the ranks as Raphael Varane once did?
Here are five young center back targets to keep in mind.
Freiburg CB Nico Schlotterbeck
It seems as though the 22-year-old German international is destined to join one of the big Bundesliga clubs, whether that ends up being Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. Both teams should be desperate for a defender, and there hasn’t been a more impressive defender in Germany’s top flight this season than Nico Schlotterbeck.
With 2.2 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, Schlotterbeck is a proven ball-winner and one of the best athletes you will find at the position. The Freiburg star has also scored four goals, and he has been getting better as the season progresses.
Schlotterbeck would probably fit better as a regular starter at Dortmund or Bayern than as a backup at Madrid, but there may not be a more high-upside – or intriguing – young center back. There may also be better fits for Real, but when considering the expected cost, Schlotterbeck is very much someone to monitor this summer transfer window.
RB Leipzig CB/LB Josko Gvardiol
Sticking with the Bundesliga, let’s move over to RB Leipzig, who are known for producing top-quality talents. Underrated Ballon d’Or candidate Christopher Nkunku may be the Leipzig player at the top of Real Madrid’s wishlist, but his teammate in defense, Josko Gvardiol, would fill a bigger position of need.
Gvardiol was one of the quiet breakout stars of the last Euro tournament, which earned him the move to one of Germany’s top three clubs. At Leipzig, Gvardiol has been an even bigger revelation than he was in the Euros, playing at a high level as a center back or left back.
That positional versatility should intrigue Real Madrid, because they could use a left back or a center back. Gvardiol could be the Nacho replacement, given his flexibility. And he is another phenomenal athlete who can bring that something extra to the Merengues.
This season, the 20-year-old has two goals and two assists, 1.3 dribbles per game, and 1.2 fouls drawn per game. Those are outstanding attacking numbers to go with 1.6 tackles per game and 1.8 interceptions per game.
There are more stout defensive options, but you will not find a center back under the age of 21 who is playing at a higher level than Gvardiol. And the fact that he can do so many different things, particularly offensively, makes him that much more interesting to Real Madrid. Unique, versatile players are the name of the game and should be the types of players Real covet in the upcoming transfer windows.
Sevilla CB Jules Kounde
The Jules Kounde to Real Madrid transfer rumors are not over by any means, and that should be a positive for Madridistas. He and Antonio Rudiger are the most heavily-linked center backs to the Merengues, and between the two of them, the up-and-coming, yet experienced, LaLiga center back has the greater upside and translatability to what Madrid are doing. Just recently, we saw him make some nice defensive plays against LaLiga’s most dangerous one-on-one threat, Madrid’s very own Vinicius Jr.
Kounde is an intelligent center back who is among the best at the position technically. A great passer, Kounde completes nearly 89 percent of his attempts in LaLiga for Sevilla and even draws a foul per game despite being a pure center back in a back four.
Not cheap by any means, Kounde was a highly successful investment on Monchi’s part, as Sevilla bought him from Bordeaux a few years ago for a solid price. Real Madrid would have to pay upwards of 50 million euros for a center back who should also be hotly contested by Chelsea again – provided the Blues are able to make signings in 2022.
Kounde is worth the price, though, and he should still be affordable, especially after not getting a transfer in 2021. Real Madrid should go for the best possible option, and when considering his consistency and individual skill-set that we have seen in LaLiga, Kounde looks like the top option. And while I would not consider him a solution at right back, his versatility can only be seen as a benefit to Madrid.
Inter Milan CB Alessandro Bastoni
Inter Milan teammate Milan Skriniar is absolute class and certainly impressed head-to-head against Real Madrid in this year’s Champions League, but if you take into account age and his ability to play on the left as a left-footed center back, Alessandro Bastoni may be the better long-term option for Los Blancos to purchase.
Surely, Inter wouldn’t want to sell Bastoni at any price, but as we saw with Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi in the 2021 summer transfer window, the Nerazzurri can be forced into making certain financial decisions. It is hard seeing Bastoni staying with Inter forever.
Bastoni was solid last season and has improved his game further in 2021/22. The 23-year-old Italian joins others on this list with four goal contributions in his league thus far, split between one goal and three assists.
His pass completion percentage is actually more than a percent better than Jules Kounde’s, nearly hitting the 90 mark. Bastoni adds that with 1.5 tackles per game and 1.3 interceptions per game.
In all honesty, both Nico Schlotterbeck and Kounde look like better defenders and investments, but Bastoni’s ball-playing ability is far too good to ignore. He could help take Real’s build-up play to another level, especially as he matures. You get the feeling that Bastoni has only scratched the surface of how good he can be. Bastoni can be a world-class blend of old-school defending and new-school skill at center back.
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.
Want your voice heard? Join the The Real Champs team!
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.