Crimson wrote:Looking at this realistically for a second

Garay, Mateos, Drenthe, Lass, Gago and Leon will be sold with Canales most likely going on loan or buy back. With Dudek already leaving the club.

We have bought in Sahin, Altintop, Callejon and Varane.

That leaves in the squad 21 players:

Keepers: Casillas, Adan, Meijas (will stay in Castilla)
Defenders: Ramos, Arbeloa, Pepe, Carvalho, Albiol, Varane, Marcelo
Midfielders: Alonso, Sahin, Khedria, Altintop, Granero
Attacking Midfielders: Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Kaka, Callejon
Forwards: Higuain, Benzema

So we have 2(3) keepers, 7 defenders, 10 midfielders and 2 forwards

So 21(22) players, rumours are that Jose wants a squad of no more than 23 players total.

That leaves in my view a 3rd striker and one other most likely a right back if he wants Ramos to make the switch to CB.

So Neymar would be my guess, although I think in terms of the dressing room and team chemistry Morata would be a better choice. But if we can get Neymar we wouldn't pass on it he is simply too good.

Now for the RB I just don't see how COentrao would be effective there and if Ramos stays as a RB then Coentrao is simply not needed not at the price he will cost, especially when you can get Moreno for much cheaper or simply promote Nacho when needed.

Just my view...

Good post. I'm kind of incline to agree to a certain extent but not completely.

Coentrao is coming, I'm almost certian of that. I expect it to be announced Saturday or Monday.

I not as certain about Aquero nor Neymar, but it does look appear as if one of them will come. If they do they would sell Benz and/ or Kaka.

I'm also not clear as to whether or not Lass will go. We should know for sure in about a week.

If Kaka did go, I would love for Canales to stay, but it was pretty apparent at end of year that Mou won't give him a lot of playing time so I feel it is better for him to go. I really feel we have screwed this one up, but I wish him well as I think he has a very good future. They are trying to get a loan deal with him (or a sale with buy back option) just to try to keep him for future, but they are having a hard time. Villareal or Valencia are best choices but they are insistent on buying him. Latest is Luis Enrique is after him for Roma. He hasn't been interested in leaving Spain thus far but with Boyan and possibly other Spainards at Roma he might agree (don't know about Real agreeing though).

So I think the line-up comes now to a few choices.

1. Do either of Aquero or Neymar come? Out come of this will be whether or not Benz and Kaka remain with team.

2. Does Lass stay.

3. Who are the 23rd and 24th players (if they are going with more than 22)? It comes down to do we want a 3rd striker, do we want a pure DM (to replace Lass) or do we want a creative midfielder (to replace Kaka). Note if we get both Aquero and Neymar and Kaka, Benz, Lass leaving, we would have 22 players meaning at most we would have only 2 of the 3 options above. There also is the possibility that Morata will stay at Castilla and play occasionally (as 3rd striker) - same deal as Mejias.