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4 Alternatives After Real Madrid Failed to Sign N’Golo Kante and Andre Gomes
- Updated: July 25, 2016
Real Madrid have not enjoyed enormous success in the transfer market this summer. While they have managed to loan out some of their younger talents and sell back-ups Denis Cheryshev and Alvaro Medran, incoming deals have been restricted to just Alvaro Morata, who returned from Juventus on a buy-back deal.
Even his future is not 100 per cent clear, with Chelsea reportedly considering a third bid for the striker in the event Diego Costa moves on, per the Express.
Over the past two weeks, Real have seen two key targets slip from their grasp: N’Golo Kante—who was on top of Zinedine Zidane’s wishlist, according to Marca—went to Chelsea, and Andre Gomes performed a sudden and shocking switch to arch rivals Barcelona, after Real had tracked him all summer.
Improving a squad that has just been crowned champions of Europe isn’t easy, but Zidane does need reinforcements. It seems clear from the two attempted deals that midfield remains a priority area for the French manager—so here are four considerations as alternative options between now and the closing of the transfer window.
Star quality: Paul Pogba
It doesn’t take much imagination to figure that Real’s longstanding interest in Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba might ramp up a notch pretty soon.
Aside from the French international’s astonishing technical and physical traits, his standing as a big player on the world stage naturally appeals to a club that attempts to convey the same status and prestige.
A £110 million move to Manchester United has been widely reported over the past few days, including by the Daily Mail, so Real Madrid would have to get a move on to snare their man. But hope is not lost. Football 365 cite reports in Spain suggesting Pogba prefers Real to United and is hoping Zidane and Florentino Perez come in with a late bid.
Real Madrid might be champions of Europe, but several key competitors have already improved this summer based on deals so far, including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid.
This could easily be the most competitive campaign in Europe for some time, and while adding Pogba to their ranks would boost Real’s quality, it would also lessen the chances of a rival becoming better.
If the Frenchman signed, it wouldn’t be a question of where he would fit, but how to …
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