The one possible Real Madrid signing in January

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 11 Jan 2023 16:05 GMT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid have been linked with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Jude Bellingham and more in recent weeks, but they can't buy everyone this winter…

Real are Spanish and European champions and have an accordingly impressive squad that is the envy of much of the rest of world football.

Rejuvenation is needed at the edges, however. Luka Modric is 37, Toni Kroos 32, and recent Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, 34, could face the next couple of months on the sidelines after tearing his thigh muscle on the eve of the World Cup with France.

READ: Real Madrid 'angry' at Ballon d'Or winner Benzema

Benzema's predicament is at the heart of Jorge Mendes' opportunistic proposal for Real to re-sign club legend Ronaldo for the next six months, although the Portuguese now seems set for a big money move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Real are working hard on a pre-contract agreement with Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, however. The 16-year-old can only move to Europe on his 18th birthday in the summer of 2024, but that hasn't stopped Real, Chelsea and PSG from trying to secure his signature in advance.

Future targets

"I don't see Real Madrid signing any player in January, if not future targets like Endrick," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column. "They stated in public and confirm in private that they want to continue with the same squad. We will see in the summer or in the future."

READ: Real Madrid's 'ace' to secure Endrick transfer

Real are optimistic of securing Endrick's signature. Chelsea may have given the player and his family a tour of their Cobham training centre while PSG have sent a delegation to his current employers Palmeiras, but Real are a unique proposition.

No other club at the top of world football can point to such a clear career progression for young Brazilian players as Real, with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo both signed upon turning 18 in recent seasons before going on to star for los Blancos and then the Selecao.

Endrick may not move in January, but the agreement to join in July 2024 could well be in place by then.