Real Madrid manager eyeing another big defensive signing with Arsenal and Man City stars on the agenda | OneFootball

Real Madrid have beefed up their ranks in a big way this summer, bringing in not one but four new players for the season ahead.

Three of them have been defenders in Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate. But Real Madrid’s defensive makeover is far from finished, as new coach Jose Mourinho is keen on further reinforcements.

Mourinho wants another centre-back

Mourinho is keen on signing one more centre-back. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

According to a report on El Debate (h/t Defensa Central), Mourinho wants Real Madrid to sign another centre-back in order to completely overhaul the back four.

The Portuguese coach is determined to reshape a defensive unit that struggled badly for large parts of last season, and despite the arrival of Konate to bolster the heart of the defence, he is pushing for at least one more addition in that area.

The need for a new centre-back became more pressing after Nico Schlotterbeck, one of the names Real Madrid had been monitoring, suffered an injury at the World Cup that ruled him out of contention.

As a result, the club have refocused their search on other targets. Any incoming deal is likely to be tied to outgoings, with Real Madrid needing to offload some players to balance their squad.

But the intent is clear: Mourinho wants to enter the new season with a completely revamped back four capable of competing on all fronts.

Who are the three players on the radar?

Real Madrid are keen on Ruben Dias. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

The report identifies three names currently topping Real Madrid’s shortlist: Riccardo Calafiori, Ruben Dias and Piero Hincapie.

Of the trio, Ruben Dias is considered the most attainable, largely because of the Jorge Mendes connection.

The Portuguese agent represents the Manchester City defender and enjoys a strong working relationship with both Mourinho and the Real Madrid hierarchy, which could help smooth any potential negotiations.

The obvious complication, however, is City’s reluctance to part with one of their most important defenders.

Calafiori, the Arsenal and Italy centre-back, offers a younger, left-footed profile that would add balance to the backline, while Hincapie, another Arsenal player, should offer more versatility.