Real Madrid view €60 million-rated PSG maestro as the ideal Toni Kroos replacement | OneFootball

The retirement of Toni Kroos left a gaping hole in Real Madrid’s midfield department which came to haunt them in the ongoing campaign.

The plan to not sign a replacement for the German icon and instead trust the options already present at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal backfired spectacularly.

The collapse of the team’s midfield like a house of cards in many games this season has forced Real Madrid to change course. With Luka Modric also on his way out, the need for a midfield orchestrator is more urgent than ever.

As such, under Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid are actively seeking a new midfielder who can deliver immediate impact – someone to bring structure and rhythm back to the heart of the team.

Vitinha the ideal heir?

Now, according to MARCA, PSG midfield superstar Vitinha is seen as the closest stylistic match to Kroos within Real Madrid.

However, at the same time, the Portuguese international is also considered by far the most difficult target to land.

Vitinha is admired at Real Madrid. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old midfielder is capable of dictating tempo, breaking lines with passing or dribbling, arriving in the final third and is tireless off the ball.

Signing him would mean immediate reinforcement at a level befitting Real Madrid’s demands, but prising him away from PSG will not be easy.

After all, Vitinha is a vital cog in Luis Enrique’s setup at Parc des Princes and signed a new long-term contract until 2029 this past February.

Other targets include the likes of Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Rodri (Manchester City), and Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan) but will all be expensive to pull off.

So, it will be interesting to see whom Real Madrid pursue to reinforce their midfield and plug the gap left by Kroos’ retirement and Modric’s departure.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.