Real Madrid have turned their attention towards former goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco, who is currently at fellow La Liga club Deportivo Alaves.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Fernando Pacheco is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a potential move in the January transfer window. The 29-year-old Deportivo Alaves goalkeeper is being viewed as a possible replacement for wantaway goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
Fernando Pacheco spent most of his formative years at unheralded clubs like Obandino and Flecha Negra before finishing his footballing education at Real Madrid. However, after graduating from La Fabrica in 2011, the Spaniard had to suffice with appearances for Real Madrid C and the Castilla side for the most part.
With Keylor Navas and Iker Casillas ahead of him in the pecking order, it was hardly surprising that Pacheco made just a couple of appearances for Real Madrid before joining Deportivo Alaves in 2015. And the move to the Basque Country outfit has done wonders to his career as the 29-year-old has been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper at the Mendizorrotza in the last six years.
To date, Pacheco has turned out 229 times for Alaves, keeping 73 clean sheets in the process. Now, though, the former Real Madrid academy ace has popped up on the radar of the Merengues over a potential move in the January transfer window.
The Spanish giants are considering signing a replacement for Andriy Lunin, who has grown increasingly disillusioned with his role at the club. The Ukrainian goalkeeper has unsurprisingly been unable to displace Thibaut Courtois as the first-choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid since arriving from Zorya Luhansk three years ago.
With appearances restricted to the Copa Del Rey, the 22-year-old is yearning for greener pastures, with Borussia Dortmund among the clubs linked with him. However, Lunin looks set to join Espanyol on an 18-month loan deal, which will not include a purchase option.
As for Real Madrid, they could bring in an in-house replacement, with Toni Fuidias and Luis Lopez among their options. Alternatively, they are considering the prospect of signing someone from a fellow La Liga club, with Fernando Pacheco and Dani Cardenas among their targets.
However, the second option might not lead to a successful signing, especially when it comes to Pacheco, as the 29-year-old features week in week out for Alaves. So, it remains to be seen if Real Madrid can sign a goalkeeper to replace Lunin or if they are forced to promote someone from within the club.
