Real Madrid transfer targets – Will Los Blancos spend in January?

With three senior defenders currently sidelined with ACL injuries, Real Madrid could be forced to reverse their usual policy of not spending any money in January this season. 

With a three-horse title race brewing in LaLiga and the likelihood of an extra knockout tie in the Champions League this season on the horizon, one or two smart signings could make all the difference if Los Blancos are to stay on track for silverware and cope with the demands of a hectic schedule.

Any additions are likely to be at the back. While Trent Alexander-Arnold is believed to be one of the primary longer term Real Madrid transfer targets, a January move for the Liverpool man, who is out of contract in the summer, seems improbable.

As a result, the defending Spanish champions may need to get creative, and either dive into the loan market, or find an alternative shorter term solution to their current defensive issues.

A reluctance to do business in January

While the rumour mill frequently swirls, there is rarely much substance to any Real Madrid transfer rumours in the month of January. In fact, it’s five years since they made a January signing of any sort, and bypassing the window altogether seems to be a very clear preference at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Even last season, when their injury plight was comparable to their current one, Real Madrid didn’t sign. That was despite the ACL injuries suffered by Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba in the first half of the campaign.

They had admittedly already drafted in Kepa as goalkeeping cover in the summer window, but the conventional wisdom at just about any other major European club would have been to bring in an extra defender, given the challenging circumstances.

Real Madrid resisted that temptation, instead frequently playing midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in central defence for much of the remainder of the campaign, whilst also relying on the experienced Nacho. The policy of not signing ultimately paid off, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side winning both LaLiga and the Champions League.

Real Madrid January signings in the 2010’s and 2020’s

It’s really striking just how infrequently Real Madrid have dived into the January transfer market over the past 15 years. They haven’t made a signing this month, since the addition of Reinier in 2020, and he initially joined up with the B team rather than the senior squad.

Brahim Diaz was the last January addition to go on to play a real part in the first team set-up. He made nine appearances in LaLiga in the second half of the 2018/19 campaign, following a move from Man City. However, it wasn’t really until his return to the club after three years in Milan, that Brahim started to make a big impact in the Spanish capital.

Lucas Silva was also a January addition in 2015, but the Brazilian would go on to endure a pretty miserable time at the Bernabeu in which he barely featured, with his contract ultimately terminated by mutual consent in 2019.

Prior to that, Real Madrid did look for shorter term fixes, with the additions of Emmanuel Adebayor in 2011 and Diego Lopez in 2013, with the latter joining as a result of an injury for Iker Casillas that would rule him out for three months.

Will injuries force them into the market this season?

Given their reluctance to add new players in January unless absolutely necessary, it seems safe to assume that any business Real Madrid do next month, will be in defence.

They have sufficient options elsewhere, and left-back is also covered with Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia. However, Dani Carvajal’s season-ending injury, leaves just 33-year-old Lucas Vazquez at right-back, and even he is a winger by trade.

In central defence, Antonio Rudiger is again the dependable mainstay, with Tchouameni once more likely to spend the remainder of the campaign playing in the position. However, with Militao out with another ACL injury, and with major doubts about the state Alaba will be in when he finally returns from his, there is very limited cover.

With the versatile Nacho no longer at the club, Ancelotti’s defensive options are even more limited than was the case last term.

Jesus Vallejo is still technically part of the squad, but is clearly not trusted. 21-year-old Raul Asencio has featured following his promotion from Castilla, and has coped pretty well so far, but it’s doubtful that Real Madrid would want to go into decisive matches later in the campaign with a player who is not even regarded as the best defender in their youth set-up.

Real Madrid transfer targets – Who could come in as defensive cover?

Any injury for Rudiger would leave Real Madrid with a serious problem at the back, so it does look more likely than not, that the team currently 3rd in LaLiga, will look to do some January business this time around. Assuming that is the decision, there are a few different approaches they could take. 

One would be to sign a young defender on a longer term deal, a player viewed as having a big future, but also capable of settling quickly and being a useful squad player for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.

Alternatively, Real Madrid could sacrifice any long-term vision, and just look to get the best defender or defenders they can feasibly bring in on loan, or potentially an older player on a shorter term contract until the end of this or the next season.

The latter may be much more likely at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold expected to be a major summer target. In central defence, there is certainly room in the squad for a younger defender to come in and compete for a place, following the failure to sign reported summer target Leny Yoro.

In an ideal world, they may look to find a player capable of operating in both roles. Los Blancos have been linked with moves for the following defenders in recent weeks:

Christian Mosquera, Valencia

20-year-old Christian Mosquera has impressed in a struggling Valencia side over the past 18 months. He’s clearly one of the outstanding young central defenders in LaLiga, and having already chalked up more than 50 starts in the Spanish top flight, he has sufficient experience to come in and be at the very least a useful squad player for the remainder of the campaign.

While Valencia wouldn’t want to lose Mosquera given their own miserable current plight, they are very clearly a selling club these days. Their owners would most likely welcome any offer from Los Blancos and could potentially use at least some of the cash to reinforce their options at the other end of the pitch.

Jonathan Tah, Bayer Leverkusen

Should Real Madrid decide there is a real need to bring in a more experienced centre-back in January, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah is one player who may come under consideration.

Tah started alongside Rudiger in central defence for Germany last month and he’s a player that would instantly boost Ancelotti’s options at the back. Like Alexander-Arnold, his current deal runs out in the summer though, so Los Blancos would most likely be reluctant to spend big on Tah’s services in January.

Vitor Reis, Palmeiras

There have been plenty of young Brazilians who have moved to the Spanish capital in recent years. Following success stories like Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, Real Madrid are now being strongly linked with Palmeiras youngster Vitor Reis.

The centre-back will turn 19 in January, so he’s old enough for Real Madrid to sign and immediately throw into the fist team squad. Reis has represented Brazil at youth level, but he’s still very inexperienced, having only broken through into the Palmeiras first team this year.

Pedro Porro, Tottenham

Seen as an alternative target to Alexander-Arnold, Pedro Porro would certainly be a good addition were Real Madrid able to pull a deal off in January. It’s five years since he last appeared in LaLiga for Real Valladolid, but the 25-year-old has since developed into one of the best attacking right-backs in the Premier League. 

Tottenham would be reluctant sellers though, and it’s unlikely Los Blancos would make any move for Porro, unless they had clear indication that Alexander-Arnold was intent on extending his stay at Liverpool.

Juanlu Sanchez, Sevilla

An alternative and more attainable Spanish right-back option in the short-term would be Juanlu Sanchez at Sevilla. Muchlike Valencia, the Andalusians are going through a difficult period and would most likely be quick to cash in, should a sizable offer come in for a player who has made 17 starts in LaLiga to date, having also featured in the Champions League.

Juanlu is also capable of operating in midfield and he’d represent a solid squad option in the short-term for Los Blancos, and would bring much needed competition for Lucas Vazquez at right-back.