Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on CA Osasuna midfielder Jon Moncayola as they look to secure a reliable backup for mainstay Casemiro.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, Real Madrid are keeping tabs on CA Osasuna’s Spanish midfielder Jon Moncayola as they scour the market for reinforcements in the centre of the pitch.
Moncayola came through the ranks at Osasuna and broke into the first team in 2019, from which point he has never looked back. A mainstay in the middle of the park for Los Rojillos, the 23-year-old has racked up 78 senior appearances in which he has produced a return of four goals and a solitary assist.
Moncayola has been an ever-present in the lineup for Osasuna in the 2021/22 campaign, having featured in 10 of their 11 La Liga games (nine starts). The midfielder was a part of the Spain squad that won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this year.
Moncayola’s growth and development over the past couple of seasons have now seemingly attracted the attention of La Liga bigwigs Real Madrid. The Merengues strengthened their midfield unit this past summer by signing Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes but remain in the market for more reinforcements.
The position is understandable, considering that Luka Modric is in the final stages of his career and will see his contract expire at the end of the season. In addition to that, Toni Kroos is into his thirties and has had injury problems this season. At the same time, the lack of a proper cover for Casemiro in the defensive midfield position also remains a concern for Real Madrid.
To that end, Los Blancos have been linked with several midfielders of late, including Olympique Lyon’s Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta, with Moncayola also emerging as a prospective target for the Spanish capital outfit now. Capable of playing as a defensive anchor or as a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old would offer greater depth in the centre of the park for Real Madrid.
However, Osasuna might demand a large sum for their academy graduate, having managed to tie him down to a ten-year contract with the club earlier this year. Indeed, Moncayola’s contract with the La Liga outfit runs until the summer of 2021, putting them in a strong negotiating position should Real Madrid make an approach.
For now, the Spaniard is an option that the Merengues are looking at, along with several other midfielders like Franck Kessie of AC Milan and Lazio’s Serbian star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
