Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Real Madrid Identifies Top 2 Transfer Targets for 2026-27: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Jan 19, 2026 7:59 PM ET

Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, is aware that his team needs to make two moves in the next summer transfer window. ElDesmarque's Jorge Picon reported it live.

"Real Madrid has two key positions it wants to strengthen. The first is the center of the defense," he began by stating. Next, he gave more details about what will happen with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger.

"Alaba's future is far from the Bernabeu, and they are waiting to see what happens with Rudiger. Right now, anything can happen, the decision is 50/50, but we already know that Madrid usually extends these decisions until the final months of the season."

Likewise, he gave a name to strengthen the center-back position: "They are already looking for names for that center of the defense. I'll give you Schlotterbeck's. He is a very well-liked player; he indeed had a knee injury, and that always worries, but he is a player they are looking at. The name of Konate, my information is that he is ruled out by Madrid," he said.

Kees Smit of AZ during the match PEC Zwolle vs AZ at the MAC3 Park for the Dutch Vriendenloterij Eredivisie season 2025-2026 in ZWOLLE, Netherlands on January 17, 2026.Photo by EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Real Madrid Targets Center-Back, Modric-Style Midfielder for Summer Window

The most striking part of the information shared by Jorge Picon was when he said Florentino knows the team needs a midfielder and, in turn, wants one that resembles Pablo Barrios.

"There has been a lot of talk about Zubimendi, a profile that is not what they are looking for. What Madrid wants is a creative midfielder, a style like Pablo Barrios, Vitinha... a player who is the new Modric. A player capable of playing between the lines and who can organize Real Madrid's game a bit."

Defensa Central reported that Kees Smit is the top favorite to land in Madrid. In fact, there are already emissaries following him very closely with all kinds of details. He, for his part, has made it clear that he will leave AZ Alkmaar and could leave for 30 million euros.

The Dutchman was the MVP in the last U-19 European Championship and has a very interesting projection. Perhaps he is a name to keep in mind for the coming years.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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