Real Madrid keeping tabs on three midfielders after missing out on Rodri – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid are portraying a nonchalant image after being rejected by Manchester City’s Rodri who has opted to sign for Barcelona.

There is, however, no denying that the World Cup winner would have been the perfect solution to all of the club’s midfield troubles and that the department remains with a void even now.

Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde continue to be options in midfield, but the team can definitely do with some ball-control and creativity – something Jose Mourinho will look to find alternatives for.

Alert to the market

As reported by AS, going to the transfer market for a new signing is not Real Madrid’s top option as matters stand.

They are, however, alert to opportunities that may arise. Three players, on that front, are on Los Blancos’ radar.

Wharton has been on Real Madrid’s radar for long. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The first is Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace’s midfielder who was linked heavily to Real Madrid earlier this summer.

His price tag, however, has always been an issue and will be a bigger one now given how much Real Madrid have already spent.

Kees Smit is another player who the club have eyed for a reasonably long time and continues to monitor. The youngster, however, is not as tried and tested as more experienced options.

Finally, Ayyoub Bouaddi is the third player Real Madrid are following, although the World Cup breakout star is close to signing for Manchester City this summer.

Mourinho’s backup plan

Bernardo Silva is Mourinho’s backup plan. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)

As reported earlier this week, Jose Mourinho has full faith in the squad currently at his disposal and feels he can fill the midfield void with existing options.

On that front, he sees Bernardo Silva as a candidate to play in deep midfield, as part of the double pivot.

Throughout his career, Silva has made a name for himself playing as an attacking midfielder and a winger, and for him to shift to a pivot role may well be asking too much of the new signing.

Should the idea work, however, Real Madrid will indeed have no regrets over missing out on Rodri.