Real Madrid Influencers Pick Their Top Summer Transfer Targets

Real Madrid are champions of Spain, champions of Europe and champions of the world—but the search for improvement never stops.

After manager Zinedine Zidane only signed a single player last summer—bringing back Alvaro Morata from Juventus—Los Blancos may need to add one or two more this time around, particularly if there are exits from those who haven't featured as frequently over the past 12 months.

But where does a club go after winning everything? Who can be signed to help the team not just to stay ahead of the crowd but improve on what's already there?

To gauge fans' views, we've spoken to four social influencers of the Santiago Bernabeu club to get their summer transfer targets and why they feel those players can improve Los Blancos' starting XI.

Build from the Back

Having scored well over 100 goals in La Liga and plenty more along the way in various cup competitions, it's no surprise to see that the front line doesn't figure high on the list of priorities.

It's not just the BBC front three but Isco's return to form, Marco Asensio's progress and Zidane's ability to juggle a squad successfully while they still net regularly.

The UEFA Champions League final was a case in point; Juventus had conceded three goals in 12 games prior to the final before letting in four in 90 minutes during it.

Thus, there's plenty of similarity about many votes—starting with the No. 1.

The first chat with @RMadridInfo pointed the direction in which most conversations would go.

"David De Gea," @RMadridInfo said. "Although Real Madrid have a squad that doesn't need many changes, there is always room for improvement.

"Real have two great goalkeepers in Keylor Navas and Kiko Casilla, but both are in their 30s. While Madrid are building a team good enough for present and future, De Gea should be the priority.

"He's just 26 years old, and having his peak years at Real Madrid will be great for the club—as well as the player returning back to his hometown."

The link with De Gea is a long-running one. The latest reports from Marca indicate Real will not be signing the Manchester United man this year, but it's such an on-again, off-again rumour that few believe any suggestions.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Wait and see is the only possibility to go with.

Promoting Youth

One particular theme is prevalent throughout most discussions with Real's social influencers: The future is bright thanks to the youthful talent available to the club. Zidane must do his best to incorporate these players.

At other clubs, "young players coming through" might relate to 17- and 18-year-olds, but at Real Madrid it's different. A teenager must already be elite to make the grade, and even Asensio—an excellent performer, the best young player in Spain at times last term—is already 21.

Players go on loan, get game time and come back. That's the path taken by several Real hopefuls, and @UltraSuristic_ notes there are one or two more who might be in line to do the same.

"

 Marcos Llorente won more 2016/17 tackles & intercepts than Casemiro, Kante, Busquets, Pogba, Vidal, Xabi, Gabi, Verratti, Weigl & Bakayobo pic.twitter.com/YmcQRL1cNu

— M•A•J (@UltraSuristic_) June 8, 2017"

"First off, bring Marcos Llorente back from loan [at Alaves]. All I'll say is that in 2016/17, he had won more tackles and made more interceptions than N'Golo Kante, Sergio Busquets, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Julian Weigl, Xabi Alonso, Gabi, Marco Verratti and Casemiro.

"In addition, [bringing] the tenacious Jesus Vallejo back from loan is the only and best option at centre-back. He's [come on] leaps and bounds [with Eintracht] Frankfurt."

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Kiyan Sobhani of @ManagingMadrid suggests much the same.

"I'd pretty much roll with what Zidane seems to already have planned.

"Marcos Llorente should be coming back, and having watching him all season, I can safely says he was a top-three to top-five defensive midfielder in Spain. I'm really excited about the depth he can bring at that position.

"I was in the camp that would have tried my best to twist Pepe's arm to stay one more season because he still had a lot in the tank to give. I also wanted Vallejo to stay at Frankfurt for one more season. But that's out the window now, which, to be sure, is not a disaster, because Vallejo is a generational talent."

Between the two, both Real Madrid fans have a clear option for someone the team could sign from elsewhere.

"Theo Hernandez is one," says Sobhani. "He's young, not someone to demand starting minutes every game and can be groomed for years to come as Marcelo's understudy."

Labelled "aggressive and offensive in equal measure and yet to reach full potential" by @UltraSuristic_, Theo has proved himself as one of Europe's best young talents.

The problem is his parent club: Atletico Madrid.

Alternative Upgrade

Former Real Madrid TV reporter Semra Hunter (@SemraHunter) suggests the same tactic, with the defence clearly being a key area to bolster for 2017/18.

While Vallejo is one option, though, the potential for Real to spend bigger looms while the youngsters improve elsewhere.

"Given the impending departure of Pepe—and let's be honest, Fabio Coentrao has been virtually nonexistent—I'm inclined to say that Real need to bolster their defence," Hunter said. "I'd opt for more sensible depth than big star signings; it's a very good chance for Nacho to get more playing time and really come into his own or bring back Vallejo after a couple seasons developing abroad, just like they did with Dani Carvajal, Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez, to name a few.

"Otherwise, it could also be a good opportunity to reopen interest in Nicolas Otamendi—they looked at him back in 2015 while still at Valencia.

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"I've always really liked him as a player, and I think he shares some similar attributes with Sergio Ramos and even with Pepe. It may not be the flashiest of signings, or even of positions, but it's one I think they'd do well to cover."

Manchester City aren't hanging about with signings of their own this year as they bid to close the gap to Europe's elite teams, such as Real Madrid.

Their work shows the level of spending required to compete at the top end of European football—but as Real showed last year, and as each of our influencers noted, when you've already got the best team, just keep on believing in the group.