Real Madrid have to sign at least one center back in January.
Even before Eder Miltao’s season-ending injury against Osasuna, it was already abundantly clear that Los Merengues needed to sign one more central defender so that the would at least have three healthy senior players at the position.
With Militao injured and David Alaba still unaccounted for after his own ACL tear last December, Real Madrid have just one senior center back in the squad, Antonio Rudiger.
Real Madrid should have already signed an experienced center back in a previous transfer window, such as this past summer when they failed to replace Nacho Fernandez, who moved to Saudi Arabia.
Perhaps the club viewed prospect Joan Martinez as the Nacho replacement, but, sadly, the teenage sensation suffered – here it is again – an ACL tear in the preseason.
Now, Real Madrid are looking at starting-caliber options, young and old, knowing that they HAVE to sign someone, whether that is Castello Lukeba or Aymeric Laporte.
Despite his age and the fact that he would have no resale value past the age of 30 as a 30 million euro transfer from Saudi Arabia, Laporte looks like the favored option because of his wealth of experience in Spanish football.
In an interview with Cadena SER, Laporte made it so clear that he’d like a transfer to Real Madrid this January that he used the word “obviously” twice.
"I’d obviously listen to Real Madrid’s call, you can’t ignore clubs like that. It feels good to see the links. I’m not so informed about that, but it’s obviously nice."
Laporte is easy enough to sign. Most teams don’t transfer for aging players who already went to the Saudi Pro League because of the cost involved, but Laporte isn’t some over-the-hill scrub; he’s still proven competent at the international level.
Basically, if Real Madrid want him, they can have him. As long as they are OK with looking at Laporte as an 18-month rental and are fine with throwing 30 million euros at Al-Nassr for him, he’s there’s.
Laporte is obviously saying yes, and Al-Nassr certainly won’t say no to a player who will probably be back in Saudi Arabia for less than 30 million euros within two years.
Real Madrid should look for better alternative, of course, but the thing is, there are none. They are probably going to sign one young center back and one older one, and Laporte is the best of the older ones if they aren’t going to reunite with Sergio Ramos for literally free.
By making it clear that he wants to join Real Madrid, Laporte is increasing the chances that he will ultimately be the 30-year-old defender Florentino Perez begrudgingly gives to Carlo Ancelotti as help in Real’s desperate ploy to remain the best team in Europe – and even Spain, at that.