Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Bayern Munich superstar Jerome Boateng to beef up their backline ahead of the new season.
According to Spanish publication Don Balon, Real Madrid are taking a keen interest in Bayern Munich superstar Jerome Boateng. The defender, who was also linked heavily with a move to the Premier League this summer, is now on the radar of Zidane as the Frenchman seeks to bolster his backline going into the new season.
Real Madrid managed to achieve what the club had been aloof of for the past decade, winning the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in the same season – the club also became the first one to defend a Champions League title.
And as Los Blancos go into the 2017-18 campaign to defend both their crowns, Florentino Perez has been scouring the market for additions to fit Zinedine Zidane’s plans.
Their recent recruitment policy has seen them build more towards the future, with the addition of Dani Ceballos, Vinicius Junior along with the return of Jesus Vallejo and Marcos Llorente to become a part of the first-team setup this time around.
However, Pepe’s departure has not only seen a quality centre-back leave the club but also, with the Portuguese, Real Madrid have seen a wealth of experience depart the Bernabeu. And while youthful exuberance might be the way to go forward, the backline needs leadership and experience.
Da oggi ufficialmente un giocatore del Milan! / From today I’m officially an AcMilan player. #LB19 #HungrierThanEver pic.twitter.com/qmzEF92WSK
— Leonardo Bonucci (@bonucci_leo19) July 21, 2017
Real Madrid were linked with a move for Leonardo Bonucci, which could have solved the potential problems caused by Pepe’s exit. But, Bonucci opted for AC Milan and Los Blancos have been scouring the market for an able alternative ever since.
As per the report, their search has now led them to Jerome Boateng – a 28-year-old who was hailed as one of the best centre-backs in world football and was one of the constant fixtures in the Bayern starting lineup before succumbing to an injury last season, which restricted his minutes at the Allianz Arena – only 13 Bundesliga appearances.
The player is still due to return from another injury – a thigh problem – by the end of July. But, his starting spot at Bayern looks as good as gone, given the arrival of Niklas Sule, who along with Mats Hummels and Javi Martinez will likely make the core centre-back roster for Carlo Ancelotti heading into the new campaign.
Also, the manager has promoted Felix Gotze into the senior team, who may be afforded some chances to impress early on in his senior career. Hence, a move away from the club is exactly what Boateng needs, given the fact that the 2018 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon.
And with the growing number of options in the eyes of Joachim Loew, the 28-year-old will have to produce a good campaign in order to be in the reckoning to make the cut and be a contender for a regular spot at the back for the German national team.
Perhaps his performance against Real in the Champions League last season could be one of the reasons for their interest in the player.
Jerome Boateng vs Real Madrid 2nd leg.
Class performance. pic.twitter.com/9TtINSEqvB
— Sameer (@GracefulHummels) July 28, 2017
Real Madrid’s priorities are David Alaba and Aymeric Laporte. And while the former seems like an unrealistic target at the present moment, the latter is more inclined towards Barcelona and is likely to head towards Nou Camp – be it this summer or sometime after.
At 28, the player can still offer a good 3-4 years of top-tier football to Real and could be available for cheap at the moment, given his lost place in the starting lineup and his bout with injuries. This could be a stop-gap economical move to shore up the defence for Zidane & co.
