Real Madrid will reportedly monitor these four transfer targets the closest

Real Madrid are now in rebuilding phase. The old guard’s time is running out. Some players have their contracts run out soon, some have already left, and some will leave to make way for the youngsters that arrive. It’s clear that Real Madrid need to sign some players to get back into their title-winning ways.

In order for them to do that, they will need to spend big in the summer window of 2022. They already underlined the signing of Kylian Mbappe on their to-do list, and the fact that they didn’t get him this season is one reason why they will make sure nothing and no one is in the way when he becomes a free agent.

Real Madrid may have a huge transfer window next summer

According to a report from AS, Real are looking closely at four players, three of which will become free agents next season.

According to the report, Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and Paul Pogba.

Obviously, keeping tabs doesn’t mean they’ll actually sign all four of those players. There’s simply no need for all of them, but Real could use three of them.

Real Madrid are in need of a midfielder that is capable of starting for the team right now, because Toni Kroos and Luka Modric aren’t going to be around for much longer, while younger talents like Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde are too raw. Paul Pogba would make a lot of sense, however, even in a free transfer, there’s going to be a lot of money spent in commissions, agent fees, signing bonus, etc., since his agent is Mino Raiola. It’s a risky signing, but at the same time, it’s also a safe choice.

I don’t really have to explain to you why the club needs Mbappe. It makes the most sense from a sporting, financial and emotional perspective. There are countless articles up on this site and so many others justifying the importance of Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid, so I won’t go into that.

Now comes the tough choice. Erling Haaland will be available for around a reported fee of 90 million Euros next season, due to a clause in his contract which activates in 2022. As of now, Lewandowski’s contract expires next season and there is a chance he walks away from the club for free in search of a new challenge.

The thing is, paying that fee for Haaland makes a lot of sense because he’s only 21 years old, and has his whole career in front of him. Lewandowski is a safe and comparatively cheaper choice, but age doesn’t side with him. He’s 33 years old, and I don’t know if Real Madrid’s policy allows them to go with a player of that age. Don’t get me wrong, he’ll still score a lot of goals, but for how long is the main question.

I don’t know if Real Madrid will be able to land even three out of the four players available, but there’s a chance they do. It’ll be a headache for the manager to fit Haaland and Mbappe into the same lineup, but it’s not impossible, by any means.

If this report is indeed true, I’m disappointed not to see a single centre back among the top transfer targets. There’s a dire need for at least one new defender at the club, and if it doesn’t take place next season, it would be a very foolish move from Real Madrid.

It remains to be seen what Real Madrid do next summer, but one thing’s certain; the next summer window is the most crucial one Real have had in years.