Real Madrid are preparing for an expensive summer, as it appears almost certain they will end the season with zero major trophies. AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez is reportedly chief among a list of heavyweight targets, as the club look to secure their transfers early.
Xabi Alonso to be Granted ‘Welcome Gifts’ By Real Madrid
With Carlo Ancelotti officially appointed the manager of Brazil, Real Madrid will hope to usher in a new era.
The arrival of Xabi Alonso brings with it much promise; his resume is mightily impressive given his relative managerial infancy, having been one game away from an unbeaten European treble with Bayer Leverkusen last season.
With Madrid seemingly on their way to an unacceptable haul of no silverware, president Florentino Perez is prepared to mark Alonso’s arrival in the dugout with a slew of new arrivals on the pitch.
The 2024-25 campaign has shown the squad to be more fragile than it appears on the surface. Ageing and injury prone players, along with a general lack of cohesiveness has led to a season of inconsistency.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is already confirmed to be arriving, and Los Blancos are working hard to facilitate a move in time for June’s reimagined Club World Cup in America.
However, Spanish channel Chiringuito TV claim that Madrid will arrive at the tournament with not one, but three new squad members.
All three arrivals are expected to be defenders, with Ancelotti often being forced to deploy a makeshift backline this season. Loyal servant Lucas Vazquez is already confirmed to be parting ways, while the future of David Alaba remains unclear.
That leaves holes to be filled, and Madrid’s defensive shortlist features several potential major transfers.
Theo Hernandez to Madrid Rumours Resurface
Xabi Alonso’s influence could be felt immediately, with Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo strongly linked with a move to Madrid.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s highly-coveted Dean Hujsen is appreciated as a new centre-back option, while Jonathan Tar and Cristian Romero are also on their radar.
Diario AS also recently revealed the club’s renewed interest in Theo Hernandez, who departed for AC Milan in 2019.
His departure has often been thought of as ‘the one that got away’ having since excelled at the San Siro, and he is viewed as their priority left-back target this summer.
The Frenchman has reached a stalemate in contract negotiations with Milan, with his current deal expiring next June. A scenario whereby Milan lose their most prized asset for free is to be avoided at all costs, so they could be forced into sanctioning a move this summer, if Hernandez’s contract stalemate continues.
The left-back isn’t the only player Milan could part ways with this summer, with the club opting not to make Kyle Walker’s loan permanent, with the England veteran set to return to Manchester City in the Premier League.
