A disappointing season for Real Madrid is an impressive campaign for most other clubs in European football.
The Whites have stuttered in the first half of 2024/25 and will be frustrated heading into the new year. Three wins from six in the Champions League is worrying and leaves them in a difficult position, while their form in the League has been inconsistent. By their own high standards, they remain a little short of their best.
It seems unlikely that Madrid will make any additions in the January transfer window but this could turn out to be a fatal mistake. Defensive injuries have been costly this season and have often left the Spanish giants exposed, with backline reinforcements essential in the near future.
Here are the zones Real Madrid could point to the winter window.
Dani Carvajal enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023/24, but his current campaign is over. The 32-year-old is out for the remainder of the term with an ACL injury suffered at the start of October, leaving Madrid incredibly short at right-back.
Lucas Vázquez is their only other senior option and the former winger has rarely been a reliable figure on the right side of defence. An injury to the Spaniard in mid-November forced Ancelotti to use Federico Valverde in the right-back position.
The Whites could desperately use a more consistent and impressive option for the second half of the campaign.
Key objectives
The Madrid right-back’s main target appears to be Liverpool’s dynamo Trent Alexander-Arnold. The number 66 is out of contract with the Reds at the end of the current campaign and could join best friend Jude Bellingham in the Spanish capital. The England defender can sign a pre-contract with Los Blancos in January, but he looks highly unlikely to join before next summer.
The sensational Bayer Leverkusen Jeremie Frimpong is another that has been coincidentally linked to Madrid. The attack-minded Dutchman was instrumental in his side’s league and cup double last season with his penchant for scoring goals and providing assists.
Even the Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has It has been reported that Los Blancos are interested. The Portuguese defender would certainly be a steady option for Madrid, but is unlikely to get a pulse at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The central defender has been a problem for Madrid for a long time. Not because of the quality of those they have in charge, but because of a relentless stream of injuries.
David Alaba has been out since December 2023 and will take time to readjust when he returns to the squad at the start of the new year. Eder Militao has suffered an ACL injury for the second consecutive season and the rest of the campaign will be lost. Nacho Fernandez left on a free transfer in the summer.
All this has left Madrid lacking depth and quality in the central position. Antonio Rudiger has been a mainstay, but his partnership has flown between defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and youngster Raul Asencio. To challenge for the major titles, they may need to consolidate the center of their defence.
Key objectives
An option for Madrid in the January window is the former defender Rafa Marin. They sold the 22-year-old to Napoli after an impressive loan spell with Alavés, but could sanction the Spaniard’s return in January, even if only on loan.
Jonathan Tah was a serious target for Bayern Munich in the summer, but the centre-back’s move to the Bavarian giants never materialised. The Bayer Leverkusen defender is available on a free next summer and Madrid have been previously linked with the German international.
If Madrid want to sign a younger talent with bags of potential, then Palmeiras is the wonder child Victor Reis could be a solution. The 18-year-old has been compared to fellow Brazilian Marquinhos and has a bright future.
Left-back is one of the only defensive areas in which Madrid have not suffered major injuries this season, but Ferland Mendy’s increasingly worrying performances mean it is still a position that could be strengthened.
Deputy Fran Garcia has replaced the Frenchman in recent weeks after a disappointing first half of the 2024/25 campaign filled with mistakes and shaky performances. Even Eduardo Camavinga was favored over his compatriot in the 4-2 win against Sevilla last time out.
Key objectives
Alfonso Davies is Madrid’s main left-back target. The speedy Bayern defender has consistently been one of the best in Europe in his position over the past few seasons and could arrive on a free transfer next summer. A move in January looks much less likely, but they could agree a contract for the Canada international during the winter window.
A profitable option could be that of Girona Miguel Gutierrez. The former Los Blancos academy product could be available for just £8million due to a buy-back clause in his contract as the 23-year-old dazzled for the shock Champions League knockout stages from last season.
Passing through another former left-back, Teo Hernandezit would be a more ambitious move. Madrid are unlikely to come up with the mammoth fee required to sign the Frenchman, but there is no doubting his status as one of the world’s leading full-backs.
