Real Madrid face an important summer with decisions over some of their longest-serving players set to be made. The second reign of Carlo Ancelotti was a special one but the club need to continue their strategy of building a youthful team to create a new dynasty under Xabi Alonso.
There is unlikely to be any January transfer business conducted by Madrid amid links to Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit. Those two are thought to be on the shortlist for the summer.
But it's not only incomings that will need to be studied ahead of the summer but also potential departures. It could be time to move on from a Los Blancos hero.
Dani Carvajal has offers to leave
Dani Carvajal's contract is up in the summer and he is free to speak to clubs from abroad. The Spaniard has been at the club since 2013 and been a mainstay in the Madrid team, helping his side win 26 major trophies.
The 33-year-old is Los Blancos' skipper and is a key leader amongst the squad but injuries have taken their toll in recent times. He has struggled with a knee injury this season, returning to the bench for the 5-1 win over Real Betis last week.
According to Mario Cortegna of The Athletic (via Madrid Xtra), Carvajal has offers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the MLS. He could opt to end his career by moving abroad but his desire is to remain at the Bernabeu.
Madrid are heading in a new direction and that should mean Carvajal bids farewell in the summer. He will go down as a legend and one of the best right-backs in the club's history.
The report claims that any decision will be made jointly and could be announced before the end of the season. It's time to move on from the Ancelotti era and create a new one under Alonso, building a new team and environment with a different leadership team.
Time to be patient with Trent
It's fair to say that Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn't exactly lived up to expectations since arriving at Madrid. The Englishman arrived from Liverpool in the summer but has endured an injury-plagued season, appearing just 11 times across competitions.
Trent has plenty of experience to make the right-back position his own in Alonso's team but it's vital he remains fit. But fans might need to curb their expectations this season and allow him to get to grips with La Liga football.
A new right-back signing might be something to consider next year if his fitness struggles continue. There are several options to look at that could offer different profiles, handing Alonso two contenders and that could include calling upon youth or entering the market in 2027.