5 players Real Madrid can sign in January

When Real Madrid won the Champions League final in 2017, after winning the league just a few weeks prior, most thought it was a beginning of a new era where the Los Blancos would dominate the world of football for years to come.

And why wouldn’t they think that? After all, Zinedine Zidane had assembled a squad that was capable of beating any team in the world and the best bench strength among them all.

Six months down the line and here we are. Madrid are 8 points behind the league-leaders, Barcelona, and are about to face PSG in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Given the erratic nature of their form, it seems as though the Blancos need at least a couple of signings in January.

And here are 5 players that they could sign during the winter transfer break…

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#5 Mauro Icardi

For one, he is not obligated to a Champions League side, which means that Real Madrid can play him in Europe’s premier competition should they sign him. And secondly, he is a bloody good player.

While Icardi’s name might have gone into the rut after his affair and subsequent marriage to former team-mate, Maxi Lopez’s, ex-wife, Wanda Nara, he has been stronger than ever on the pitch. The 24-year-old scored 26 goals from 41 games last season and is currently on 16 from 16 so far this season in the league – which is 10 more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have scored in the La Liga together.

The Argentine is powerful forward with brilliant ability in the air. He is also a punisher within the box and doesn’t miss many when he has the ball at his feet anywhere inside the penalty box. While Icardi might not possess the passing skills of Benzema, he is a much more predatory striker than the former Lyon man.

#4 Kepa Arrizabalaga

The next Real goalkeeper?

This is something that has gone under the shadow a bit due to the club’s problems in the forward section. The duo of Keylor Navas and Kiko Casilla haven’t entirely done well between the sticks. With Navas being injured, he has also been a bit rusty when in action and isn’t looking like the goalkeeper he was during his Levante days.

Meanwhile, as good as Casilla is, the lack of game time is never good for a goalkeeper and backup shotstoppers can only get so much playing time. As a result, Madrid now need a goalkeeper that is in form and can help the Blancos save goals.

And right now, with all things considered, Athletic Club’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is the ideal signing. He is not obligated to any Champions League teams, which once again means that he can play in the Champions League should the Galatictos sign him.

He might not yet be a good holder of the cross, but he is still very young and can improve to become Madrid’s number 1 shot-stopper for years to come.

#3 Gabriel Barbosa

The Benfica man isn't doing too well

It seems as though whatever Gabriel Barbosa – aka Gabigol – is touching, it is turning into stone. The talented forward was signed by Inter earlier in January this year, but he failed to live up to his bidding in Italy.

And then he was loaned off to Benfica in the summer and things still haven’t kicked up for him. Ironically, Gabriel Jesus – who was seen as the lesser of the two talents – is now rocking it at Manchester City while Gabigol can’t find his feet in Portugal.

This makes it difficult to place him here, but the logic is that he has the talent to be a top forward, all he needs is the right temperament and at Real Madrid, he could get just that. Heck, if someone like Emmanuel Adebayor could transform into a completely different person under the glorious lights of the Bernabeu, then anyone can.

And Gabigol’s talent makes taking the risk worth it.

#2 Andre Silva

Cristiano's successor?

If he comes to the Bernabeu, then Cristiano Ronaldo will be one happy man. Already vouched by the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner as his “successor” for Portugal, Silva is a talented forward with an eye for goal.

He might not yet have opened his book for Milan in the league – and that is a problem with the whole team in general and not just Silva – he has done well in the Europa league, scoring 8 goals from 10 games in Europe.

This has two sides now. One, he is a man in form should he be given a proper system – which Real have in plenty, thanks to their midfielders. And two, he is cup-tied, meaning that he can’t play for the Galacticos in the Champions League should he be signed.

However, with La Liga being the main concern for the strikers, he might still be of high value for the club.

#1 Mariano Diaz

Real could do much worse than signing him back

This is perhaps Madrid’s greatest regret right now – and if it isn’t, then it should be. The Dominican-Spaniard was sold to Lyon for a mere €8 million and without a buy-back clause. And he has been on fire ever since joining the French giants.

So far this season, Mariano has scored 13 goals from 20 games and is looking like a real deal. His hard work and ability to look for the goal from various angles within the box makes him the perfect predator among his peers.

While this seems like a difficult thing to happen, Real Madrid could yet try and bring him back 6 months after letting him go. However, the one problem is that he is cup-tied with Lyon in the Europa League and can’t play for the Blancos in the Champions League.

However, most importantly, he is a Madridista through and through and will take no time to settle down.