The Hard Tackle lists five players Real Madrid should closely monitor at the upcoming month-long UEFA Euro 2024.
Real Madrid are arguably the best club in Europe at this point. They won La Liga as well as the UEFA Champions League last season and just days after being crowned champions of Europe, Los Blancos announced the signing of Kylian Mbappe.
Brazilian attacking sensation Endrick is also set to join the team in white before the start of next season. While the attack looks sorted for years to come, they do have a few things to worry about despite having a star-studded squad.
The team from Madrid need reinforcement in the centre of the park as well as at the back to maintain their dominance. They might already have a shortlist of players that they are going to target in the upcoming transfer window.
But, they will also keep a close eye on the Euros to identify players who can fit into their system and bolster their squad. The Hard Tackle has identified five players that will be on the radar of the team in white during the Euro 2024 as they look to strengthen their squad.
Bart Verbruggen
An injury to Thibaut Courtois at the start of the season caused a lot of headaches for Carlo Ancelotti. Los Blancos brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga to cover for the Belgian. But, an injury to the Chelsea shot-stopper saw Andriy Lunin get an extended run in the team.
The Ukrainian international took the opportunities with both hands and led them to the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League final. Courtois returned in time for the Champions League final and Lunin was reduced to the bench. While he was suffering from influenza B, the decision was made weeks before the game.
The 25-year-old is not really happy with that decision and is considering his future at Real Madrid. With Kepa expected to return to his parent club and Lunin’s future uncertain, the Spanish giants need to sign a young goalkeeper who can cover for Courtois and eventually take over as their number one.
Bart Verbruggen is a player they have been linked to in the past and can reignite their interest in him during the upcoming transfer window. The 21-year-old has had an impressive debut season at Brighton & Hove Albion, and he is all set to the number one for the Dutch national team at the Euros.
Verbruggen has huge potential and given the kind of rise he has had in recent years, Los Blancos should surely scout the youngster as they look to add a young shot-stopper to their squad ahead of next season.
If he does end up putting in some exceptional performances, the team in white could end up making a move for him. While his contract with the Seagulls runs until the summer of 2028, Real Madrid surely have the financial strength to prise him away,
Adam Wharton
Wharton has had a sensational rise over the past 12 months, and he has put himself on the radar of multiple top clubs. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the 20-year-old midfield sensation, who has the potential to be a special player.
He came up the ranks at Blackburn Rovers and made a name for himself while playing for their first team before making the switch to Crystal Palace at the start of the year. While it has not been long since he moved to the Premier League outfit, Wharton has already impressed one and all with his performances.
He was involved in 16 league outings for the Eagles and even contributed towards three goals. On the back of his consistent performances, the young sensation had made it to the England squad for the Euros.
While he is expected to only have a limited exposure at the continental tournament, top clubs will be keeping a close eye on him, and Real Madrid should surely scout him during the month-long tournament in Germany. Los Blancos do have a lot of quality in their midfield. But with Toni Kroos retiring and Dani Ceballos’s future uncertain, they do need to reinforce their midfield.
The team in white needs someone who can help them in the long run, and Wharton could be a sensational signing for them. He can feature in any role in the centre of the park and his abilities on the ball suggest he could be a long-term replacement for the German sniper.
Antonio Silva
Real Madrid’s 2023/4 campaign will go down in history as one of their very best as they won both major trophies with their first-choice centre-back pairing and their number-one goalkeeper out injured for the majority of the season.
Los Blancos went through the season with two central defenders and Aurelien Tchouameni, who dropped into the backline when needed. The team in white are already light at the back with just four centre-backs in their squad and with Nacho Fernandez’s future uncertain, they do need to add depth at the back.
Nacho is already 34, and his contract is running out while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are both 31. As a result, signing young defenders for the long run is a priority for the club. Antonio Silva is someone who has been linked with the Spanish giants, and they should scout him in the Euros before making a call on whether to push for his services.
But, Real Madrid are not the only club interested as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all in the mix. Silva, who got promoted to the Benfica first-team back in 2022, is already a mainstay in the team, and he is all set to have an important role for Portugal at the Euro.
Multiple top clubs will keep a close eye on him and so should Real Madrid. The Portuguese international is only 20 and will only get better with time. As a result, he could be a great addition for them in the long run. But, a lot will depend on how he does at the Euro.
Jeremie Frimpong
Dani Carvajal had an absolutely sensational season with Real Madrid. He was one of their best players throughout the season and ended things on a high with a goal in the UEFA Champions League final. The Spanish international is expected to continue as their first-choice right-back next season.
Lucas Vazquez, who covers for Caravajal, has not done much wrong either. He has stepped up every time Real Madrid have needed him to. While on the basis of performance, Los Blancos do not really need to worry about the right-back position. But with the duo already 32, they do need to plan for the long run.
Firmpong is a player that has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. The 23-year-old right wing-back has just had an exceptional season with Bayer Leverkusen where he contributed towards 26 goals (14 goals, 12 assists) in his 47 outings.
The Leverkusen sensation is now all set to feature at UEFA Euro 2024 for the Netherlands, and multiple top clubs are expected to keep a close eye on him. Los Blancos could be one of the clubs that scout him ahead of a potential transfer.
The 23-year-old surely has the potential to play at the very highest level, and his performances in Germany could help him earn a move to Real Madrid. While he might not be the first choice in his first season, he could take over from Carvajal in a year or two’s time.
Alessandro Bastoni
Real Madrid do not have enough defensive depth and injuries at the back did cause a lot of problems for them last season. As a result, their priority is to ensure they have enough central defenders in their squad before the start of the 2024/25 season.
Los Blancos would look to sign multiple centre-backs in the upcoming transfer window. While the priority will be to add young players who can help them in the long run, they could look at someone like Bastoni as well.
Nacho is in the final phase of his career, while Rudiger and Alaba are also on the wrong side of 30. As a result, they need a long-term partner for Eder Militao, they want a left-footed centre-back who can partner with him and Bastoni could be an ideal fit.
He has established himself as one of the best young centre-backs in Italy and the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are already keen on having him in their ranks. Real Madrid have also been linked with him in the past, and they could have a close look at him during the Euro before making a decision.
Bastoni is going to be a key player for Italy at the Euro as they look to keep hold of the European championship which they won a couple of years back. While he still has four years on his deal with Inter, their financial situation is not the best and a significant fee could help Los Blancos get their man, if they do decide to make a move.
