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Real Madrid had a very quiet transfer window as they chose to fly under the radar and work it out largely within themselves ahead of the new season. Los Blancos decided against investing heavily owing to the financial strain caused by the Covid pandemic.
There was a focus on outgoings this time and though business might not have gone as well as Real Madrid would have wanted, they are now in a good position to invest heavily in the transfer market next year.
They have already been linked with some high-profile stars and given how the likes of Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard are all walking into the embrace of the 30s, there is a need to bring in young players to the club.
Let's take a look at five players Real Madrid are looking to sign in 2021.
#5 Benoit Badiashile
Benoit Badiashile was actually tipped to join Real Madrid this summer. However, a move never materialized. Badiashile is a 19-year-old centre-back who currently plies his trade in the Ligue 1 for AS Monaco.
It's about time that Real Madrid spent some money on a defensive prospect and Badiashile looks like the right player to do it for. AS Monaco have reportedly slapped a €30 million price tag on Benoit Badiashile.
This summer, he was not a priority and Real Madrid are lucky that he is still at AS Monaco as several other clubs had registered an interest in him. Zinedine Zidane is an admirer of the youngster and has recommended him to the board. The last time Zizou asked Real Madrid to sign a French centre-back, it was Raphael Varane.
#4 Eduardo Camavinga
The Rennes youngster has impressed in his recent outings for the French senior side. Camavinga has a lot of flair and shows a lot of promise with the ball at his feet. Real Madrid are very interested in Camavinga and have even identified him as an alternative to Paul Pogba, as per reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to keep Pogba at Manchester United until his contract expires in 2022. Zidane would like to sign Pogba next summer but if he fails to land him, then they will turn to Camavinga.
Rennes are well aware of Camavinga's abilities and have slapped an €80 million price tag on him and will not budge from their valuation.
#3 Jules Kounde
Well Sergio Ramos is a warrior and keeps showing up and coming up trumps for his side whenever warranted but it's time to acknowledge the fact that he is 34-years-old. Real Madrid are now looking at top centre-backs who can come in and take over from the legendary Spanish defender straight away.
Kounde has been excellent for Sevilla since joining them in the summer of 2019 and played a pivotal role in the Andalusians lifting their sixth UEFA Europa League trophy. Kounde is only 21-years-old but is now well acquainted with the rigors of Spanish top-flight football.
Real Madrid have reportedly been keeping tabs on the youngster and though Kounde has said that he is happy at Sevilla, the Blancos will return for him next summer hoping that he has changed his mind.
#2 Erling Haaland
Karim Benzema has been Real Madrid's main striker since he joined in 2009 and at 32-years-old, he might just run out of fuel soon. Eitherway, it's high time that Real Madrid found a striker who can stay at the club for the long-term and keep banging in goals like it is no big deal.
They believed they were doing it when they signed Luka Jovic last summer but it did not work out. As a result, Real Madrid have now been forced to go back and look at other options in the market and have currently settled on Haaland as the ideal signing to strengthen the goalscoring department.
Haaland could leave Borussia Dortmund for €75 million should Real Madrid trigger his release clause but some reports suggest that there is an agreement between Dortmund and Haaland's agent Mino Raiola to negotiate a staggering fee for the forward at the end of 2021-22 season.
So unless Real Madrid break the bank at the end of this season, they might return for him in the summer of 2022.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
It's been a while since Real Madrid has made a signing of this magnitude, hasn't it? All those Galacticos have now left the club. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus, Gareth Bale joined Tottenham Hotspur and James Rodriguez is now with Everton.
Kylian Mbappe is the obvious successor to the likes of Ronaldo and Messi and he is Real Madrid's priority signing for 2020. Mbappe's current contract at Paris Saint-Germain runs till 2022 and he will be available for a reasonable price next summer as the Ligue 1 giants will also be looking to cash in.
Mbappe has not agreed on extending his contract despite Paris Saint-Germain offering him a new deal on three separate occasions. Even if he chooses to extend, Mbappe is likely to ask to include a clause in his contract that would let him join the likes of Real Madrid for a specific sum of money.
Mbappe is still just 21-years-old and having tormented the Ligue 1 defences for three years, he will want to seek greener pastures and Real Madrid would be the ideal place for him to burgeon into the world beater he can be.
