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The upcoming summer transfer window will be a key period for Real Madrid, as they are in a precarious position owing to the COVID-19 pandemic wrecking their finances.
They have brought back Carlo Ancelotti as their manager. Los Blancos recently announced that their long-serving centre-back Sergio Ramos will leave the club as a free agent this summer. The versatile David Alaba has been signed on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, but there are a lot of areas to look into.
Real Madrid need to refresh their squad by adding youthful players to their ranks. They have a good core of experienced personnel, and Ancelotti is a wily operator. On that note, let's take a look at the four things Real Madrid need to do in this transfer window.
#4 Sign a right-back
Right-back was a problem position for Real Madrid last season. The club's regular right-back, Dani Carvajal, made just 11 starts in the league due to various injury issues.
As a result, Real Madrid had to utilise winger Lucas Vazquez and left-back Ferland Mendy in that position, as backup option Alvaro Odriozola was not preferred by Zinedine Zidane. Carvajal has been at the club since 2013, but Los Blancos will have to be wary of his injury issues.
Vazquez did well in that position, so it would not be surprising to see the 29-year old compete with Carvajal next season. However, it is essential Real Madrid look for right-back options, rather than relying on an injury-prone Carvajal and a makeshift right-back in Vazquez.
Also Read: Euro 2020: 5 players who could impress in unfamiliar positions.
#3 Find competition for Karim Benzema
This one is easier said than done. Karim Benzema is regarded as one of the best strikers in the game, and Real Madrid have tried finding an heir for him but with little success.
When Real Madrid splurged £56.7 million to acquire Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, the Serbia international was seen as the ideal player to eventually replace Benzema. That, however, did not happen, and Jovic is back on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt now.
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe has been a target for a long time, but getting him out of Paris would be a difficult task.
Borussia Dortmund star Erling Braut Haaland has been linked with Real Madrid as well. But given the form Benzema has been in for some time, it is unlikely any new striker would be a guaranteed starter at Real Madrid.
Also Read: Fabrizio Romano's Transfer Roundup: Update on Manchester United's pursuit of Jadon Sancho, Chelsea's plans for Hakimi, and more.
#2 Freshen up the midfield
Under Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid's trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro were regarded as one of the best midfield trios of the modern generation.
But both Kroos and Modric are now in their 30s, while Casemiro is 29. All three players have absorbed a lot of minutes over the years for Real Madrid. So now would be the right time to inject some energy and youth in the midfield area.
Federico Valverde is rated highly at the club, and it remains to be seen what Real Madrid do with Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos. Rennes' Eduardo Camavinga has been persistently linked with Real Madrid, and the 18-year old would be a good signing for any top European side.
#1 Sell fringe players
Real Madrid have found it difficult to sell big-name players like James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale because of their huge wages.
The situation is similar this summer as well. Bale returns from his loan at Tottenham Hotspur, while uncertainty surrounds the future of Odegaard, Ceballos and Jovic, who all were out on loan in 2020-21.
Even in the first team, Odriozola, Isco and Mariano Diaz are players who got limited minutes during the 2020-21 season.
Given the financial situation at Real Madrid owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is key for Los Blancos to let go of some of the fringe players to be able to land new manager Carlo Ancelotti's targets.
Also Read: 5 best Argentine footballers of all time.
