Real Madrid appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as interim head coach following Xabi Alonso's dismissal, hoping the former Castilla coach would turn the ship around and return the team to the consistency shown early on in the season. And while we have seen some bright moments, as a whole, the team hasn't improved much under the new manager.
Arbeloa is only in charge on an interim basis and doesn't seem on course to get the full time role when the descicion is made in the summer. As a result the club has been drawing up a list of ideal candidates with one name in particular being mentioned more than others.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is the favorite to become the next permanent boss at Madrid and is frankly head and shoulders above other candidates. The German has been away from coaching following the end of the 2023/24 season and is now serving as the Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull group of clubs.
Klopp is adamant that he is happy with his current role and isn't interested in the Madrid job at the moment. However, that doesn't stop rumours from swirling, and the latest reports suggest he could be open to the job, but before saying yes, he'd request four signings from Real Madrid, all of which fans would welcome.
One of Jurgen Klopp's four Real Madrid 'requests' won't make Liverpool happy
As reported by Defensa Central, Klopp has reportedly requested four signings should he be appointed. This includes two midfielders and two center-backs, with one midfielder in particular being Adam Wharton, who is also being linked with his former club, Liverpool.
Despite spending in excess of €500 million this past summer, Liverpool are also planning a midfield overhaul this summer with Wharton being among their top targets, but the German could become a thorn in his former club's plans and make him one of his first signings at the Bernabeu. Klopp has always been a loved figure at the Premier League club, but disrupting the Merseysiders' transfer plans like this could sour his relationship with the Kop.
The report goes on to state that Klopp has not explicitly requested any particular names, but strong candidates include Wharton, AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit, and the defensive duo of Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund and Como's Jacobo Ramon. The German would also request the return of Endrick from loan, which would be a move welcomed by fans, given his exceptional form on loan at Lyon and the struggling attacking line outside of Kylian Mbappe.
Real have a huge summer ahead of them in just a few months' time, the club can't afford to make any mistakes when it comes to their next manager and future signings as they look to rebuild following two disappointing seasons.