Transfer Rumours | Tactics | Who to buy/sell etc

So did Rodrygo but no smoke without fire. Ceballos will want to move on if he can get a big team to pay what we demand. As there are no teams that'll offer what we want he'll probably stay as he isn't "unwanted". He is plenty useful in the league and the Copa.

Rodrygo is another one who'll probably move on but I doubt it'll be this summer. Rather the next one if he's relegated to the bench and we find a winning formula without him

Well at least we agree about Rodrygo!

Club is working on getting Nacho is extend one more year and it appears he is considering it. Apparently they have put a new contract in place for him. The logic seems to be doubts of full ACL recoveries for both Militao and Alaba, which is often the case with this injury. They want experience and the youth replacements (Yoro and / or Marin) can wait a year.

Also they are reportedly uping the battle to sign Davies. Bayern with new coach are pressing him to renew, plus there are others that could outbid Madrid for him, if he doesn’t renew. It will mean they will have to pay more than they wanted to, but I think Davies will be coming. It might be late into summer before we know. Plus it does seem like Mendy will stay for another year (puts us in a similar situation when we had Marcelo and Coentrao). That leaves Fran to be sold!

So apparently Nacho may likely leave to Arabia. Leny Yoro and Alphonso Davies also HAVE to be sold this summer. If the club really thinks they are generational and worth it then I would think we will get them this summer, assuming that they really do want to come here too and that they do what they can to pressure their clubs as well/play their cards right.

Letting go of Nacho and selling Vallejo, Rafa Marin, Fran García, and Miguel Gutierrez (I suppose) should be in the cards to build up funds. I don't like seeing in the news that Mendy is seen by the club as expendable. I think we ideally could have both Davies and Mendy. If we let go of Mendy then we'd be betting that Davies can improve his injury record and his defensive skills to be THE well rounded starter. He's 5 and a half years younger than Mendy.

Have to check up on the Miguel Gutierrez footage but I believe Gutierrez is generally seen as having a higher ceiling as a LB than Fran García.

Also don't think Rodrygo will be leaving nor should he, and I don't take the Wirtz rumors seriously, nor the hypotheses that he can be converted into a complete, expansive midfielder like Modric.

Wirtz looks more like a forward/attacker than a midfielder to me, closer in profile in terms of ideal positioning and attributes to SS/AM type of players like Antoine Griezmann or Marco Reus maybe, rather than Modric. People go too far with player position conversion theories imo. Wirtz also seems to operate most from the left and middle, we have too many forwards already.

Does anyone know the contract situation with Achraf? I think it expires in June 2026? 2 years from now.

I’m wondering if he could be the replacement for Carvajal? Dani will be good for next year and with the way he is playing now likely for 2025/26 as well. If It is an expiry of June 2026, then the contract situation makes it a possible pursuit. It would be another battle with PSG, which I would love to see plus there is the solid friendship with Mbappe, which could be a factor as well as his roots with RMad.

It seems all is done for squad for next season except for LB and CD. Incoming are Mbappe, Endick. Outgoing are Kroos, Joselu and Nacho. They are still counting on Davies and Yoro. They have let go Marin and are selling all those whose don’t fit into plans for this ‘super team’ and at left back, they have Fran for sale, are buying back Gutierrez to resell for a profit. In both cases re LB and CB, they are working on alternatives if either of them doesn’t come this summer. Those decisions won’t be done until near end of summer market.

Then there are the possibilities of players accepting offers elsewhere. These currently are Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and Lunin. If Lunin does go, it will be Kepa retained and I really doubt the other two will go.

Saw links to Hincapie from Bayer. Interesting.

If no one else comes, Tchouameni will become a centre back

Don't think hes needed in midfield as much as he is at the back.

Focus on getting a midfielder would can control the game..no Kroos replacement but similar.

Guler, Bellingham and Brahim all can play in the middle but it's a gamble.

Guler if managed right could definitely become a Modric replacement if he pans out we probably won't need someone similar to Kroos. Play Guler, Camavinga, Valverde in midfield and Jude in his AM position

No way. Guler is definitely the AM

Clutch wrote:No way. Guler is definitely the AM

Guler himself mentioned that what sealed the deal was us pitching to him that he'd be Modric' heir

The beauty of this, assuming Güler and Endick become what they seem to be, is that there are all kinds of lineups / formations that can be utilized. The issue will be can they give everyone enough action to keep them happy. You have 9 players for 6 positions (Mbappe, Vini, Rodrygo, Güler, Endick, Bellingham, Valverde, Camavinga and Tchouamendi) and 3 on the bench, Modric, Ceballos and Brahim.

IMO, Rodrygo goes once Güler comes thru, but that still is 8 for 6 positions. We can probably assume Endick will be a backup at least for this season. And yet we keep hearing about more  additions, both midfield and forwards. I don’t know if Flo is going mad or is it just the media running rampant. I do know the the British media likes to say every EPL signing has been made at the expense of RMad?

And it isn’t much better with the defense. If Alaba and Militao return to previous form, you have 3 for 2 CB spots with a 4th still to be added (unless they decide to make Tchouameni a full time CB (I really doubt that)).  And if Davies does arrive, there are 2 for LB.

The sure starters are Mbappe, Vini, Bellingham , Rudiger, Carvajal and Courtois.

Add Valverde as a sure starter too. That doesn't really leave many spots up for grabs

I somewhat agree Hala. But I think the midfield, although primarily a rotation of Camavinga and Tchouameni, will include Valverde from time to time as well Bellingham (mainly because he showed signs of being overplayed late in season), will be rested for Dias or Güler on occasions.

So in conclusion, the regular starting positions will be;

Vinicius Mbappe. Rodrygo/Güler

Bellingham Valverde Camavinga/Tchouameni

Carvajal Militao/Alaba Rudiger Mendy or Davies /Mendy (if Davies does come)

Courtois

Re rest of Squad

Dias - wil get regular action as a sub.

Endick - I think in his first year, he will only get occasional play.

Modric - will get regular action as a sub.

Ceballos - will only get occasional play

Lucas - will get sufficient action replacing Dani.

4th CB - unless he is really talented, will only get occasional play.

Fran - if Davies doesn’t come, he will get occasional play replacing Mendy.

The main issue, will be what formation will they play and accommodating the progression of Güler.

The net effects will likely be, Rodrygo upset and thus a probable IMO, a possible high priced sale next summer.

As to the rest, they all will be satisfied with minutes received, but depending on who might come in next summer, esp. in midfield, there may be more casualties.

NEW: Ancelotti also plans to use Arda Güler in midfield next season. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/wX8ybuRwiO

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 23, 2024

That to me suggests they revert to a 4-4-2 formation when Güler is played!…… and a 4-3-3, when Rodrygo is played. Plus Dias can play either the RW or advanced midfield role, when subbed for Rodrygo or Güler

That would make sense

halamadrid2 wrote:Guler if managed right could definitely become a Modric replacement if he pans out we probably won't need someone similar to Kroos. Play Guler, Camavinga, Valverde in midfield and Jude in his AM position

I prefer Guler as a 10, with Bellingham deeper.

But Ancelotti said he prefers Bellingham closer to goal.

Getting that midfielder setup right is crucial.

It can be both. Keep in mind Güler isn’t a starter yet. When he does, it sounds like they switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2. That 4 midfielders can be 2 deep and 2 advanced.

On the other hand, there are statements that Güler may be the Modric replacement and also that Bellingham may be the Kroos replacement, neither Modric nor Kroos were AMs.

The La Decima season midfield was Di Maria, Alonso and Modric.

Isco playing as free 10 at times. Sami Khedira coming in when fit.

Di Maria was great box to box. Bellingham can play that role.

Guler or Brahim in the Isco role.

Looks good on paper.

futbol_bill wrote:It can be both. Keep in mind Güler isn’t a starter yet. When he does, it sounds like they switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2. That 4 midfielders can be 2 deep and 2 advanced.

On the other hand, there are statements that Güler may be the Modric replacement and also that Bellingham may be the Kroos replacement, neither Modric nor Kroos were AMs.

Bellingham is no kroos and Guler is no modric. We haven't seen much of guler tbh at least I haven't but I agree with cyborg that I think guler should be more of a 10 or free roaming while bellingham is more box to box.

There are a lot of similarities with Bellingham and Güler and granted we haven’t seen a lot of Güler yet, but he certainly was impressive playing in the Euros. Both have good vision and intelligence to get to the right spot. Both are good with control and both have shown they can score. The issue with the AM label is that position isn’t used at Madrid. An Englishman reported after the Euros that part of Bellingham’s issues, at Euros, was people thought he was an AM at madrid (he wasn’t, he was either a false 9, a midfielder and at times a winger), and Southgate played him as such. I agree that neither are Kroos or Modric, but I also don’t believe we need to replace them with a similar talents.

Güler will not, at least initially, be a starter and when he comes on, it will be to replace Bellingham or Rodrygo. My money is on him replacing Rodrygo more often. From what we saw at end of last season and in the Euros, Güler has a huge upside while Rodrygo failed to have that breakout season last year, at least IMO. If he plays similar this season, then I believe Güler will overtake him. Now that’s not to say Rodrygo is a bad player but I believe it will be similar to Robinho, in that he won’t be content to play behind someone and can fetch a large sale price to move to another big team. If and when that happens then the role of Güler and for that matter Bellingham will evolve. As Carlo said today he is giving all the talented fowards, freedom in mobility. Obviously they have to learn how to play together and not step on each others toes. I feel Güler will start off as a winger, but will drift back and towards the middle, whereas Bellingham will be a more forward midfielder, kind of like Modric was at times, with the other two midfielders being back deeper. And both of them will crash the box at times.

I feel the more pressing issue will be how they will play defense.

️ Carlo Ancelotti: "In the future, if he plays in midfield Arda can be one of the GREATS." pic.twitter.com/nPNuKrNzar

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 1, 2024

 

Carlo has confirmed that Ardas future will be in midfield. He was crazy good against Milan. Much better than his teammates with like a day of training. So excited to see him with Vini and Mbappe.

Just 2 weeks left in market.

- Looks like Lunin will stay

- for the extra CB(s), sounds like they are going with Vallejo plus 2 kids from academy. Whether they are added to 1st team squad or remain with Castilla for call-ups to 1st team still not clear. Btw, Alaba is expected to be ready late Oct to early November.

- the really only unknown is whether Davies will arrive and if he does what happens to Fran (will be too late for a sale). Club is prepared to wait until next season (and pick him up for free) unless accepts what Flo will pay.

Flo will pay 35M, Bayern thus far insisting on 60M.

There are rumours out there re Laporte, Trent-?, Fabian Ruiz and Wirtz, but don’t believe any will happen for this year.

I’m actually excited to see Davies speed together with speed of Vini and Mbappe

Here’s a recap on need of additions to squad.

After yesterday's ACL injury to Militao, club is now desperately in need of some winter additions.

At CB, they are essentially down to Rudiger. Alaba should return sometime before January, however recovering from an AcL injury is always questionable. Then there is Tchouameni who is currently out injured and is out of favour as a DM. Also there is Vallejo, but noone has any confidence in him.

Raul Asencio looked very good yesterday, but that was only half a game against a weak team. He remains a prospect, but will likely be used as an option for the rest of the season. Also a possibility (for next season) is Joan Martinez. He was going to be on team for this year (in place of Vallejo) until he picked up an ACL injury. And speaking about next season, it seems club is determined to obtain Romero from Spurs or Saliba from Arsenal. Romero is the most likely. But I have read club is prepared to sell Alaba, but that was before yesterday’s knock out blow to Militao. I think the most likely 4 CBs for next year are Rudiger, Romero, Alaba and whoever they pick up this winter. Question is who will they pick up this winter.

At left back, they are likely to depart with Mendy and are planning on a Davies addition. There is competition for Davies, but an agreement seems to be in place and likely to become public in January. The backup will either be Fran or bring back Gutiérrez.

Right back is the other position that needs a winter addition. Carvajal is out for the season plus I feel with the severity of the tears, the injuries probably are career ending. I suspect Lucas will likely be only out for a short period and the club can’t afford to keep Fede playing there. Lucas most likely won’t be renewed for next season given his age and limitations. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the likely signing for next year and whoever they sign this winter will likely be the backup.

Question then is who do they get at CB and RB this winter.

In the midfield, I doubt if any changes will be made this winter, but for next season, they likely need new signings as it appears Tchouameni, Ceballos and maybe Modric will be gone. They do have Bellingham, Valverde, Camavinga, Güler remaining, leading to at least two new signings required. If they decide to play with four midfielders and two forwards, then they should look for three. Names we have heard before are more in the mold of Bellingham and Güler, which suggests the need is more for deep playing CBs. This is the one area that there are no believable rumours. There is the suggestion of Rodri, but that would be an unreasonable expensive possibility.

Any thought on this?

In goal, the current pair are probably best in world, so no anticipated changes there.

Up front, there is always the possibility of Rodrygo leaving, but I now doubt this. I don’t foresee any changes from Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Dias and Endick.

We are probably adding a CB during the winter transfer window and waiting until the summer to get Trent and/or Davies.

Valverde is probably playing RB in the big games and Lucas the smaller LL games.