Following Trent Alexander-Arnold's announcement that he is indeed leaving Liverpool to join Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, Florentino Perez can rest easy knowing that he has finally signed one of his dream transfer targets and filled one of the biggest needs in his squad - a need that was only magnified after Dani Carvajal's torn ACL this season.
But what's next for Real Madrid? Even after signing Alexander-Arnold, this injury-riddled and uneven back four is still in need of some significant upgrades this summer. Here are three potential center back targets Real can pivot to next after the Alexander-Arnold transfer.
Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth
Perhaps the best possible transfer target for Real Madrid is center back Dean Huijsen. The 20-year-old Spanish international is proving himself both in the Premier League and at the international level, as he's been one of a few breakout stars for Bournemouth in former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola's bid to qualify for European football in 2025/26.
A tall, technical central defender, Huijsen is wise beyond his years and was trained in Italy, having been on the books at two historic clubs in Juventus and Roma before breaking out in Bournemouth. Huijsen is good enough to start for Real Madrid, and his body of work this season for the Cherries is more impressive than what Antonio Rudiger has put together in 2024/25 for Real Madrid.
Huijsen has been one of the best statistical center backs in Europe this season with 1.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, and just 0.3 dribbles completed allowed per game with nearly six clearances per contest. He's ready for Madrid and can be signed for a very reasonable 50 million pound release clause.
Alessandro Buongiorno, Napoli
Real Madrid already have a trio of prospects at center back worth investing in: current starter Raul Asencio, Jacobo Ramon, and the injured Joan Martinez. They also have two veterans older than the age of 30 with uncertain futures in Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, with the latter almost certainly on his last legs in Madrid.
So Real Madrid should be going after center backs who are both proven and young enough that they are still not quite in their primes. They also won't want to sign center backs who cost much more than 50 million euros.
Napoli star Alessandro Buongiorno might fit the bill perfectly in this sense, and you can make a strong case that he's been the best central defender in Serie A in back-to-back seasons for two different clubs: Torino and now Serie A leaders Napoli.
Buongiorno is a tactically intelligent defender who is very active at winning possession. He's the perfect modern-day Italian center back and still highly underrated because both Torino and Napoli aren't in the international spotlight as much as other clubs.
This season, the 25-year-old is averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game while being dribbled past just 0.4 time sper match. Buongiorno completes 91 percent of his 58 pass attempts per game. He has been the centerpiece of an improved Napoli defense that took be headed for a second Scudetto in three years after finishing outside the European places in 2023/24. Valued at 45 million euros by Transfermarkt after a 35 million euro summer transfer to Naples, Buongiorno is fairly priced.
Wilfried Singo, Monaco
Before Buongiorno and current Juventus star Gleison Bremer became the best defenders in Italy, Wilfried Singo was a defensive standout for Torino. Except the funny thing is, the current Monacao central defender was a wing back in Turin.
Singo, now 24 years old and still before his prime years, has become a significantly better player since joining Monaco as a center back. Ligue 1 produces quality central defenders - of which Real Madrid are familiar - and Singo has become arguably the best of them in the 2024/25 season on a team famous for developing solid footballers at the next level (like current Real Madrid starter Aurelien Tchouameni).
This season, Singo is averaging 1.4 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game with 0.4 dribbles completed allowed and around four clearances per match. He is one of the best progressive dribblers in world football at the center back position, too. For the total package and price, Singo might be the most undervalued center back on the market, though, sadly, Monaco don't usually sell cheap to Real Madrid.