A detailed look at Xabi Alonso’s aspirations for Real Madrid’s transfer plans | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s trip to the FIFA Club World Cup ended in disaster. The Spanish giants suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, shocking their fans and leaving the club at a crossroads.

The result has triggered serious conversations inside the Santiago Bernabeu offices. With new manager Xabi Alonso at the helm, Real Madrid now face one of its most important transfer windows in recent years.

Alonso knows the team needs fresh energy and new players in key areas. His first priority appears to be the left-back position.

Real Madrid have been chasing Alvaro Carreras for a long time. After a brief stint with Benfica, Carreras has caught the attention of top European clubs thanks to his impressive displays. Now, Madrid are ready to bring him back home.

Carreras could arrive as early as this week, especially after Benfica signed Real Madrid Castilla player Rafa Obrador.

With doubts over Ferland Mendy’s fitness and Fran Garcia’s performances not meeting expectations, Real Madrid believe Carreras can bring much-needed stability on the left side of defence.

If the deal is completed, Carreras will become Real Madrid’s fourth signing of the summer. He will join Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Franco Mastantuono in strengthening the squad for the new season.

Searching for the Next Toni Kroos

Angelo Stiller is on Real Madrid’s radar. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Another major issue for Xabi Alonso is finding someone to fill the void left by Toni Kroos. Since the German star retired, Madrid have struggled to control games in midfield.

Players like Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni have tried to step into the role, but neither has managed to truly replace Kroos.

In recent matches, Alonso has given young Turkish midfielder Arda Guler a chance to run the show, as he seems to trust the youngster more. Still, both the coaching staff and the board believe the team needs another midfield organiser to lead the play.

The name topping Madrid’s list is Angelo Stiller, currently playing for Stuttgart. At 24, Stiller has earned the nickname “the new Kroos” because of his playing style and calmness on the ball.

However, the problem is that his transfer could cost over €50 million, making negotiations complicated. However, Madrid are aware they need a solution in midfield sooner rather than later.

Defensive reinforcements also a priority

Real Madrid’s defence has also become a major concern. The loss to PSG highlighted the team’s problems at the back, with mistakes from Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger proving costly.

Real Madrid want to sign a new defender. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

On top of that, injuries continue to affect the squad, as David Alaba has suffered repeated injuries since his knee surgery. His future is now uncertain, with Saudi Arabian clubs showing interest in signing him.

If Alaba leaves, Madrid will need another central defender. The club cannot afford to go into the new season with so many question marks in defence.

Florentino Perez and Jose Angel Sanchez, the men in charge of Real Madrid’s sporting decisions, are already working on possible replacements.

Real Madrid fans should expect a busy summer. The Xabi Alonso era has started, and big changes are coming. New names are on the table, and the team will not rest until the squad is ready to compete at the highest level again.