Real Madrid are busy pursuing Bayern Munich superstar right winger Michael Olise and rival Atletico Madrid's World Cup winning striker Julian Alvarez, but their biggest interests are not actually attacking overall but rather defensive.
After signing Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries for incoming manager Jose Mourinho on bargain deals, Real Madrid remain interested in a bevy of world class defenders like Alessandro Bastoni, Josko Gvardiol, and Riccardo Calafiori.
The goal appears to be loading up on more center backs and adding a starting caliber left back to displace disappointing youngster Alvaro Carreras. Mourinho and Madrid want someone more defensive, preferably a player who can play as a center back and a left back like Gvardiol and Calafiori.
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Perhaps Real Madrid could double dip at left back with a hybrid option like Calafiori or Gvardiol, and then they could snag another more traditional left back who is also a proven Premier League star. And former Barcelona and Getafe man Marc Cucurella, a European Championship winner with Spain, has fallen squarely on their radar.
According to a report from MARCA, via the Madrid Zone, Real Madrid are not the only ones interested in signing the Chelsea veteran to their side. Barcelona are reportedly competing with a reunion in mind, and crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid are also very much interested in the 27 year old star of the English top flight.
The bad news is that Real Madrid have to fight with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and Marc Cucurella may still have an affinity towards the Blaugrana. However, the good news is that even with the competition and coming from a club as big as Chelsea, the expected asking price for Cucurella is reportedly just 40 million euros.
That's not as big of a bargain as Denzel Dumfries was at 20-25 million euros on his release clause with Serie A champions Inter Milan, but it's still a steal for another top fullback in his prime who is at a massive club and has major silverware in his history, too.
Cucurella is not as great of a player as Josko Gvardiol or Riccardo Calafiori overall, but he can get forward and create more chances with crosses than they can. He is a real progressive player who does defend well, too, and has the moxie Jose Mourinho likes. At 40 million euros, he is good value, and he is someone Real Madrid have to consider on their transfer radar at left back.
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