AS: Real Madrid to explore early Jimenez return while waiting for Liverpool star | OneFootball

Real Madrid are suffering from a lack of depth at right-back and they might look to bring Alex Jimenez back to the Spanish capital, a report claims.

Diario AS are reporting that Lucas Vázquez’s performances while covering for the injured Dani Carvajal are not causing concern, but the lack of a deputy to him is. Lorenzo Aguado and Jesús Fortea are considered interesting talents but more for the future than the present.

Following Sunday’s heavy defeat to Barça, the debate over whether or not to sign a right-back in January remains. Plan A remains Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Madrid pushing to sign the Liverpool star as much as possible, though without a big fee a winter deal will be ‘impossible’.

A more short-term solution is being pondered therefore while Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayern Leverkusen) and Denzel Dumfries (Inter) are considered too expensive. Two names stand out: Álex Jiménez and Reece James.

Jimenez is a former Real youth player that was loaned then sold to Milan permanently in the summer, and Los Blancos could try to bring him back. The 19-year-old is the most expensive youth player in Real Madrid Castilla’s history having departed for around €5m.

Guarantees on the fitness of James would be needed, while another very appealing option is Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sánchez, who isn’t currently guaranteed a starting spot with the Andalusian club. The 21-year was already viewed as an option for the summer if the Alexander-Arnold deal became complicated.

Rayo Vallecano’s Romania full-back Andrei Ratiu is a similar type of player and has been monitored, although he isn’t Madrid’s preferred option. A third LaLiga option is Jon Aramburu of Real Sociedad.

Veteran players like Inter’s Benjamin Pavard are being though about even if he would command a high fee, while Serge Aurier is a free agent but the 32-year-old has struggled for fitness in recent seasons.