Real Madrid eye transfer for England defender

FT Desk

• 23 Oct 2022 20:02 BST
• 4 min read

Real Madrid are looking to further strengthen their squad this season despite being Spanish and European champions, and a nascent English international centre-back has caught their eye.

Real swept all before them last season, winning La Liga 13 points clear of Barcelona and beating Inter Milan, PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool on the way to lifting the Champions League.

Karim Benzema, top scorer for Real at home and abroad last term, unsurprisingly garnered the most votes for the recent Ballon d'Or.

But none of that stopped Real from allowing their squad to evolve this summer. Aurelien Tchouameni was signed for €100 million from Monaco before Casemiro was allowed to leave for Manchester United for €80m.

Centre-back Antonio Rudiger also arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea, but it is in his position that Real are now looking to strengthen.

Real regeneration

Where Real can now field a midfield three of Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde that boasts an average age of 22, Rudiger is 29 and fellow centre-back David Alaba 30, with only the 24-year-old Eder Miliato representing the future in defence.

The Brazilian could have company next season in the shape of England's 24-year-old centre-back Fikayo Tomori, who is currently plying his trade with AC Milan - Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti's former club.

"Two players under observation by los Blancos are Milan Skriniar and Fikayo Tomori," report Calcio Mercato. "The Italian coach wants one of the two in view of next season. Skriniar's contract at Inter expires next June, and Inter will have to renew soon if they don't want an unpleasant surprise.

"Tomori's situation is different in that his contract expires in 2027. For this reason, Milan will only accept significant bids. But it is certain that Real plan to come to Milan next summer and leave with a centre-back."

Tomori is currently rated at €30 million by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm and his price could climb further if he shines at the winter World Cup with England.