Real Madrid Transfer News Roundup: Los Blancos suffer Florian Wirtz blow, English duo eyeing LaLiga ace, and more - November 21, 2024
Real Madrid are preparing to travel to the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Sunday, November 24, to face Leganes in LaLiga. Carlo Ancelotti's team are second in the league table with 27 points, three points adrift of Barcelona, who have played a game more.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos have suffered a setback in their efforts to sign Florian Wirtz next summer. Elsewhere, two Premier League sides have set their sights on a LaLiga midfielder.
On that note, let's look at the major Real Madrid transfer stories from November 21, 2024.
Real Madrid suffer Florian Wirtz blow
According to SPORT, Bayern Munich are ready to break the bank for Florian Wirtz next summer. The German attacking midfielder is a priority target for Real Madrid ahead of 2025.
Los Blancos are preparing for life after Luka Modric, whose contract expires at the end of this season. The Croatian is already 39 and succession plans are in order.
The LaLiga giants believe Wirtz's arrival could help sustain the quality in the middle of the park. However, Bayern Munich have apparently been working on a transfer for ages and have moved ahead of Real Madrid in the race.
They are willing to offer more than €100m for the 21-year-old, whose contract with Bayer Leverkusen runs until 2027. The German champions are reluctant to sell their prized asset to a local rival, but the player is reportedly leaning toward a move to the Allianz Arena.
The situation will be a big blow to Los Blancos' plans. However, the tables could turn if they name Xavi Alonso as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement next summer.
Manchester City and Liverpool eyeing Federico Valverde
Manchester City and Liverpool are planning an ambitious move for Federico Valverde, according to Fichajes. The Uruguayan midfielder is an integral part of Real Madrid's setup and has appeared in every game for the club this season.
Valverde was handed the No. 8 shirt after Toni Kroos' retirement over the summer. This season, he has registered three goals and two assists from 17 games across competitions.
Manchester City are impressed with his efforts and view him as a possible replacement for Rodri, who is out injured. Meanwhile, Liverpool also have their eyes on the 26-year-old as they look to shore up their midfield.
However, the LaLiga champions have no desire to let him go. Federico Valverde is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2029, so Real Madrid are under no pressure to cash in on him.
Pedro Porro backed for Los Blancos move
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tim Sherwood believes Pedro Porro could be on his way to the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid are looking for a new right-back following Dani Carvajal's ACL injury.
The 32-year-old Spaniard is sidelined for the rest of the season and the club are laying down succession plans. The LaLiga champions have their eyes on Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Porro has also popped up on their radar.
Speaking to Ladbrokes: Fanzone, Sherwood insisted that Spurs are likely to be concerned about interest from Los Blancos.
“Pedro Porro is somebody who I was critical of when I first saw him playing, under Antonio Conte, but he was being asked to play as a conventional right-back, and that’s not where his assets lie," said Sherwood.
"His assets lie in going forward, picking the ball up in midfield with plenty of energy, power, and good deliveries, and there’s lots of teams out there at the moment who are looking for that kind of player… Real Madrid being one of them,” he continued.
Sherwood concluded:
“Whether it’s going to be Trent Alexander-Arnold or Pedro Porro… maybe the fact he’s Spanish might come into things, so that is something that would concern me in the next couple of windows.”
Porro has registered one goal and two assists from 13 games across competitions for Tottenham this season.