Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are reportedly keen on signing Nico Schlotterbeck, valued at around €20 million by Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Nico Schlotterbeck is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old defender is valued at around €20 million by SC Freiburg, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also interested in him.
Nico Schlotterbeck spent his formative years with three clubs before graduating from the SC Freiburg academy. Since returning from a loan spell with Union Berlin last summer, the young German defender has established himself as a key figure for the Bundesliga outfit.
The 22-year-old has started every single game for Freiburg this season, featuring in 17 Bundesliga matches for the Breisgau-Brasilianer. Schlotterbeck has established himself as one of the best young defenders in Bundesliga, with his performances capturing the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The interest from Real Madrid is understandable, considering they chose not to sufficiently fill the spots vacated by the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane last summer. Instead, David Alaba was the only central defensive option to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While the former Bayern Munich defender has established himself as a pivotal figure, the Austrian and Eder Militao are the only reliable centre-backs at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal. As a result, Real Madrid must bolster their defensive unit at the earliest possible opportunity, with Niklas Sule among the central defenders linked with them.
To that end, Schlotterbeck is also a viable target for Real Madrid, with the youngster’s valuation unlikely to deter them. SC Freiburg will demand around €20 million to part with the 22-year-old. However, Real Madrid’s hopes of signing Schlotterbeck will likely take a hit as he wishes to stay put in the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich his dream club.
The Bundesliga champions are also interested in signing the German defender, and they will likely secure his services instead of Real Madrid. As for the Merengues, it remains to be seen who becomes their key defensive target, with several other central defenders apart from Sule, like Pau Torres and Antonio Rudiger also on their radar.
