Real Madrid could field a scary XI next season if they get the three players Xabi Alonso wants

The glitz and glamour of Real Madrid is a siren song few footballers can resist. Synonymous with Champions League inevitability and Ballon d’Or winner priority, Los Blancos are far and away the biggest and best football club in the world. And while this term hasn’t quite gone to plan, it’s a surefire bet that they’ll make full use of the imminent transfer window to make a swift return to their perch atop of European football.

With Carlo Ancelotti stepping down from the Bernabeu’s helm in a couple of months’ time to take on duties as Brazil boss, Xabi Alonso will likely be his successor. His first mission will be to plunge into his former club’s sparkling war chest and fish out the stars who can spark the birth of a new Galactico era.

Already boasting the masterful talents of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, among others – including the soon-to-be-confirmed arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool – it’s almost inconceivable to imagine how new players could slot into next season’s lineup already. But, as always, the kings of the transfer window have a way of making room for royalty. As per GOAL, three more potential summer signings are on the cards, poised to join the next wave of footballing aristocracy.

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Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad

Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad reportedly has a €60 million (£51m/$68m) release clause, and in the absence of Toni Kroos, he is seen as a fitting replacement to restore balance and fluidity in the heart of midfield. With Luka Modric also nearing the end of his career, Alonso’s side will be desperate to find playmakers of the ilk that he once displayed during his own playing days.

Wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool prior to this coming summer, the 26-year-old is clearly hot property at the moment, and while he initially committed his future to his boyhood club in the Basque Country, the prospect of following Alonso to Madrid might just prove too alluring to turn down, with it also being reported that the Spaniard is prioritising a move to the capital.

Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz was the crown jewel of Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side that ended Bayern Munich’s long-standing Bundesliga reign last season. Over the past two campaigns, the inventive, forward-driving midfielder has racked up 20 goals and 21 assists in just 60 league appearances – a testament to his consistency and class.

At just 22, Wirtz is already pulling strings like a seasoned maestro and looks destined to cement himself as one of the beautiful game’s elite playmakers over the next decade. If Alonso could take one of his Leverkusen protégés with him to the Bernabeu, Wirtz would almost certainly be at the very top of the list, so it’s no surprise the rumours of a move to Madrid are growing louder by the day as they face a bidding war with Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

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Jonathan Tah

Bayer Leverkusen

There’s no questioning Antonio Rudiger’s status as one of the world’s top centre-backs, but Real Madrid’s revolving door of partners – David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Raul Asencio – has offered little in the way of long-term stability at the heart of defence.

That’s why Alonso will likely be eyeing a trusted lieutenant to slot in beside Rudiger – and who better than Jonathan Tah? The pair share chemistry from their time with the German national team, while Alonso knows Tah inside out from their time together at Leverkusen. It’s a partnership that could click instantly.

Even better, the Leverkusen captain is entering the final month of his contract, meaning Los Blancos could land a seasoned, rock-solid defender for a bargain – another remarkable case of high value without the usual Galactico price tag, just like the deal that allowed Alexander-Arnold such an easy route to the Bernabeu. See the lineup Real Madrid could field next season if their three rumoured deals all come through:

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 03/05/2025)