Real Madrid have reportedly identified Rennes and Croatia midfielder Lovro Majer as a replacement for Luka Modric but face competition from Manchester United.
According to a report from Fichajes, Real Madrid have set their sights on Stade Rennais star Lovro Majer as a potential candidate to replace Luka Modric in the long run but will have to battle Manchester United for his signing.
The 23-year-old started at the academy of Dinamo Zagreb and spent time with the youth teams at NK Dubravka, NK Trnje Zagreb and NK Lokomotiva before returning to Dinamo Zagreb in 2018. Majer enjoyed a solid three-year stint with the Croatian capital outfit, racking up 99 appearances, in which he scored 19 goals and set up 25 more.
Majer moved to Rennes in the summer this year and has made a decent start to life in France, bagging two assists in seven games. A three-time capped Croatian international, the midfielder has two goals for the Vatreni. His progress at Zagreb and Rennes has attracted interest from two of the biggest clubs in the game in Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Real Madrid are in the market for an addition to their midfield department in the summer as they prepare to phase out long-time servant Luka Modric from the first team. The Croatian international is 36 years old and will have his contract expire at the end of the season. Plus, with Toni Kroos not getting any younger, a new central midfielder is necessary for Los Blancos next year.
To that end, the Spanish capital outfit have been linked with a host of midfielders, such as Mikel Merino, Paul Pogba, among others. Majer, who is touted as the replacement for Modric in the Croatian national team, has also emerged as a transfer target for Los Blancos. However, Real Madrid will have to face competition from Manchester United in pursuit of the 23-year-old.
Like Real Madrid, Manchester United will also need to dip their toes in the transfer market for a new central midfielder in the near future. Paul Pogba is in the final year of his contract and has shown no indication that he will sign an extension, while Donny van de Beek could also decide to move on after having struggled for game-time at Old Trafford.
With Jesse Lingard’s contract also running out in the summer, the 20-time English champions can do with the addition of another attack-minded midfielder like Majer, who can play as a No. 8 or a No. 10, which would provide them with a viable backup for Bruno Fernandes.
Real Madrid and Manchester United are also likely to battle it out for Christopher Nkunku, while Ruben Neves is another midfielder on the radars of both clubs. It remains to be seen if both clubs decide to go after Majer come summer or explore the alternatives as they look to bolster their midfield department.