Real Madrid have drawn up a laundry list of midfielders as they hunt for their ideal replacement for the retired Toni Kroos and it seems that list keeps getting longer and longer every week. Their list is filled with some of the best midfielders from across Europe, and as being reported by Defensa Central, Atalanta's Ederson is the latest to catch the eyes of those at the Bernabeu.
The 26-year-old has long been rumored to be on the verge of a transfer away from the Italian club, with Manchester United being his destination, but now it seems he could snub Old Trafford for a move to the Bernabeu. The midfielder doesn't have a set release clause in his contract, with Atalanta reportedly demanding around €60 million from any club looking to sign their workhorse midfielder.
A Brazilian 'workhorse' has just been added to Real Madrid's wishlist
Since Kroos' retirement following the incredible 23/24 season, Real have been on the hunt for their perfect heir to the German. That hunt has turned into somewhat of a wild goose chase over the last two years. The obvious replacement was Luka Modric, but the club decided to let him leave for AC Milan, where he has been thriving at 40 years old.
With Modric now in Italy, the club has been experimenting with the midfielders they have at the club, but they haven't found the perfect trio. Different combinations of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Fede Valverde have been tested, but haven't been able to replicate the perfect balance they had with the Kroos-Casemiro-Modric midfield trio, with Kroos' deep-lying playmaking role being the hardest to fill.
A reported move for PSG's Vitinha, the possibility of Manchester City's Rodri becoming available and long-term interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez have been on the rumor mill. But a move for any of them frankly seems unrealistic given their importance to their clubs. As a result, Los Blancos have been looking at other, more realistic and feasible options, with the Atalanta midfielder being the latest to pique their interest.
While Ederson, dubbed a "workhorse" by Breaking The Lines, has been better known as a box-to-box midfielder, he is still more than capable of playing the central midfield role and he has all the qualities the club is looking for as they try to build their perfect midfield trio for the future. The Brazilian has been a constant engine in the midfield, with top-notch endurance and pace; he just keeps running and running, never stopping. He brings a South American aggression to the midfield, similar to Casemiro, and is Serie A's best ball-winning and passing midfield machine.
Ederson may not be the most high-profile name on the club's wishlist, but he would no doubt be a solid option for Los Blancos to consider. With interest from other clubs such as Manchester United, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid, Real would have to put up a strong fight in the summer should they look to swoop in and steal his signature from other top European clubs.