Real Madrid finalise the number of departures essential in defence – report | OneFootball

The first step in Real Madrid’s plan to sell players is identifying positions in the squad that have a clear excess of resources.

Of all the positions on the field, the defence is one that looks the most overbooked on that front, especially after the club’s spree earlier in the transfer window.

In a matter of weeks, Los Blancos roped in Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries, taking the total number of defenders in the squad to eleven. With just four players guaranteed a starting spot, there are seven ‘extras’ in the department.

Number of sales finalised

As relayed by AS in a recent update, Real Madrid see the competition in defence to be borderline excessive, and have decided that two sales are needed from the department at the very least.

The full-back positions, in that sense, leave the clearest situations and both the left-back and right-back departments are in polar opposite scenarios.

Expected to leave. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

At right-back, no departure is expected given that there are only two players – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries. The former must step up in his second season at the club, and the latter is a real threat to his starting spot.

The left-back position, however, is the most overbooked defensive position as there are four players after the arrival of Cucurella.

As matters stand, the new signing is the top-placed option to start under Mourinho given his form at the World Cup. Carreras has been linked with a departure but will likely stay as a luxury backup given the sum the club spent on his signing last summer.

Fran Garcia is the best-placed to leave the club given that he will hardly enjoy minutes next season and that he has been linked with a departure before too. Ferland Mendy, meanwhile, is practically impossible to sell given his horrendous injury record.

The centre-back situation

Surplus to requirements. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

As matters stand, Mourinho has five players in central defence and only one is guaranteed a starting place – Eder Militao. Even the Brazilian’s assured place is only when he is back to his complete fitness.

For the remaining positions, there are four players in active competition – Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Raul Asencio. Further, the manager is pushing to sign Alessandro Bastoni who will also join the same battle if he arrives.

Asencio, on that front, is the lowest placed on the pecking order and could well leave the club. He has been linked with Arsenal in recent days and it remains to be seen if anything comes of it.