5 players Real Madrid can target on Deadline Day
After a blockbuster 2016-17 season, seldom anybody might have foreseen Real Madrid spiralling down to the position they are currently at -- 19 points behind league leaders Barcelona and out of the Copa Del Rey. As if that wasn't enough, Los Blancos will face the unstoppable Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League.
In spite of the torrid times they have been going through, it is astounding to see Real Madrid sitting quietly in the transfer market. The month of January was probably their last and the best chance to make amends by signing players. However, they have refrained from signing any player, also incurring the wrath of their fans in the process.
That being said, let's have a look at the five players they can still sign as the transfer window draws to a close.
#5 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
Lazio have been in fine form this season, thanks to the mammoth contribution of Ciro Immobile. However, another of Biancocelesti's players who deserves a worthy praise is Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The 22-year-old has attracted Manchester United and Juventus with dazzling performances in the Serie A. An imposing presence in Simeone Inzaghi's midfield, the 6ft 2in midfielder is adept at creating chances with through passes and excellent in winning aerial duels. Added to that, he is also a threat to the opponents from outside the box with his long shots.
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has played well, albeit not to the usual standard. If the statistics in their respective leagues are taken into account, Milinkovic-Savic outsmarts him in a number of departments.
He outclasses the Croatian in the key passes area, creating 1.38 key passes per game compared to the latter's 1.2. Also, he has won an average of 2.4 aerial duels per game(thanks to his tall stature) while Modric has only 0.3 under his belt.
Last but not the least, Savic has been involved in 9 goals (7 goals and 2 assists), totally overshadowing the 32-year-old's 2 goals and a single assist.
Lazio have stated their intention to refrain from selling their prized asset in this window, but an audacious last-minute bid could prove too hard for the Italian outfit to turn down.