Real Madrid's summer transfer plans appear to indicate that a new midfielder is the top priority and a world class talent is on the agenda. The list of potential options continues to grow but there is one player whom the club clearly feel is ideal.
Replacing Toni Kroos has proven to be more problematic than anyone imagined and the German's retirement is still impacing the team. A lack of a creative spark in the middle of the park has been glaringly missing.
Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha is reportedly the number one choice among the club's higher-ups. The 25-year-old is one of the most highly-admired ball-playing midfielders in Europe and ticks all the boxes for Los Blancos.
Fabrizio Romano on Real Madrid's Vitinha interest
Madrid might be eager to bring Vitinha to the Estadio Bernabeu but its a transfer that would be extremely complicated to complete. Not least because of the difficult relationship between the two clubs.
Fabrizio Romano has delved further into the problems that Los Blancos will have trying to lure the Portuguese midfield maestro to the Spanish capital. He said on his YouTube channel:
"Real Madrid appreciate Vitinha, like all other clubs. At the moment, the situation is very clear, the player has a long contract, a big salary, PSG see him as a crucial part of their project.
If any club, like Real Madrid, want Vitinha, I think it’s gonna be very, very complicated and very expensive to even think about this sort of player."
Vitinha's contract with PSG doesn't expire until 2029 meaning the Ligue 1 giants are under no pressure to cash in this summer. Various outlets have suggested a potential deal for the former FC Porto man could cost over €100 million.
Madrid would have to be prepared to do business with a club that aren't exactly too fond of them. There are still ill feelings from Paris towards the La Liga giants because of the manner of Kylian Mbappe's departure and move after years of back and forth over his potential signing.
Vitinha deal seems unlikely
Vitinha will need to push for the move to make it happen judging by Romano's assessment of the situation. It seems an unlikely transfer at this stage for several factors including the finances involved.
That doesn't mean a new elite midfielder won't be on the cards in the summer because there are alternatives. One of them could be Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez who is reportedly open to joining Los Merengues.