Real Madrid have reportedly identified Levante’s Jorge de Frutos as a replacement for Lucas Vazquez whose contract expires at the end of the season.
According to a report from Spanish publication Defensa Central, reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid are preparing for life without winger Lucas Vazquez and are lining up a transfer for Jorge de Frutos to replace the Galician.
Vazquez, a graduate of the Real Madrid youth academy, has been an integral first-team member for over the past half-a-decade. While he may not have always been in the limelight, the 29-year-old has gone on to make 236 appearances for the club bagging 26 goals and 53 assists.
Primarily a right-winger, Vazquez has displayed his versatile nature this term, slotting in as a right-back in the absence of Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola, doing so quite effectively. So far this season, the Spanish international has scored twice and assisted seven more in 30 games in all competitions.
Despite his understated importance to the team, Vazquez could be on his way out of Real Madrid this summer. Indeed, the 29-year-old’s current contract with Los Blancos runs out at the end of the season and there has been little progress in negotiations over a new deal, with the winger pushing for an exit.
And, it seems like Real Madrid are readying a succession plan for the 29-year-old, with Levante winger Jorge de Frutos lined up as a replacement, as per the report. The 24-year-old, another exponent of Real Madrid’s Castilla team was on the club’s books since 2018 having joined from Rayo Majadahonda.
After a couple of loan spells away at Real Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano, de Frutos left Real Madrid permanently last year, signing for Levante. However, as per the report, the Merengues still own 50% of the player’s rights and also have the option of first refusal on the Spaniard, a clause which they inserted owing to the potential he had shown.
De Frutos has made quite a solid impression in the ongoing La Liga campaign, producing a return of three goals and eight assists, along with a couple of assists in the Copa del Rey as well. And Real Madrid are now convinced that he can be the ideal replacement for Vazquez ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old is contracted with Levante till the summer of 2025. It now remains to be seen if he makes his way back to Real Madrid in the near future. As for Vazquez, it seems like his time in the Spanish capital club is nearing an end, with his next destination yet to be determined.
