Real Madrid identify Bellingham and Guimaraes as the heirs to Modric and Kroos

Cameron Smith

• 21 Apr 2022 18:25 BST
• 4 min read

Real Madrid have reportedly identified two midfield targets to bolster their options in the middle of the park as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos begin to age.

While Modric provided two masterclass performances to help Real Madrid reach the Champions League semi-final stage, Kroos was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga to great effect with the Frenchman's energy helping to see off both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

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However, Modric is now 36, while Kroos is 32 and will need permanently replacing in the Real Madrid midfield soon.

The recent purchase of the aforementioned Camavinga highlights how Florentino Perez is looking to the future, while Federico Valverde has begun to prove his worth in a Los Blancos shirt aged 24.

Those two have been seen as the future of the midfield, but both lack the ability on the ball that Modric and Kroos have. While Camavinga is a technically gifted footballer, he is also a huge defensive presence and Valverde brings plenty of progression and energy, but doesn't yet have the quality to dictate a game of football.

That, combined with the need for squad depth, is why Los Blancos haven't stopped trying to find solutions to the midfield problem they will soon find themselves faced with.

Paul Pogba was long rumoured to be a target, but those links have died away as the years have gone, and new targets have emerged.

Real Madrid's pursuit of Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni fits the mould of Casemiro as he tends to play more as a holding pivot despite possessing the quality to play further forward.

In fact, while Tchouameni has played as a No.8 for Monaco this season, given his incredible ability to break up, he does tend to sit and protect play rather than race out of shape.

Reports do suggest Real Madrid are heavily interested in him, so a deal could be arranged but it isn't the only midfield target they are seriously pursuing.

Bellingham and Guimaraes to Real Madrid?

Jude Bellingham burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager at Birmingham City and is already one of Europe's best midfielders aged 18. His leadership qualities have come to the fore this season, and his performances show how mature he is as a player and a person.

A driving force in the Borussia Dortmund midfield, Bellingham is wanted by Real Madrid according to Bild, with Los Blancos ready to rival Liverpool's interest in the Englishman.

It's expected that Bellingham will stay at the Signal Iduna Park for at least one season, but after then Real Madrid are reportedly set to pounce.

Potentially alongside him at the Santiago Bernabeu could be Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian only joined Newcastle United from Lyon in January, but he's already wanted by bigger clubs. Real Madrid are said to have been thoroughly impressed with his adaptation to the Premier League and Diario AS have reported that Los Blancos want to make a move following the 2022 World Cup, where he is expected to star for Brazil.

Guimaraes has played as a box-to-box midfielder at St James' Park and with his ability in possession is far more of a Modric-type player than someone such as Valverde or Camavinga. The Brazilian would add something different to Real's midfield and could also fill in for Casemiro as he often played as a single pivot at Lyon.