If Real Madrid Could Only Sign 1 More Player This Summer, Who Should It Be?
Real Madrid have been a little more active in the transfer market this year than they were last summer, but it's nothing like the sport-shaking investment for which they have become known under Florentino Perez's stewardship.
Alvaro Morata was the sole signing one year ago, and he moved on for an astronomical profit this summer. Just youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos have arrived this close season, for a combined £37 million: £23 million for Theo and £14 million for Ceballos, both figures per Marca.
The combined fees are dwarfed by the £70 million Morata's sale could fetch, per Stephen Turner of Sky Sports, while James Rodriguez's loan to Bayern Munich and the sales of Mariano Diaz to Olympique Lyonnais and Danilo to Manchester City all topped up the kitty. It's safe to say there's plenty left over to spend if Real Madrid want to.
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But time is ticking down, and manager Zinedine Zidane has not shown great intent to dramatically alter his squad, preferring to work with what he has. And why not given they've landed him back-to-back UEFA Champions Leagues and ended the club's La Liga title drought too?
If they are to do more business, as a result, it's likely to be just the one new face. So who should it be? If Madrid were to sign one more player, and only one more, where's the key area to upgrade?
Untouchable
Two areas of this Real side in particular are set to be left alone, with no need for further expenditure or upgrade: central midfield and left-back.
The latter is pleasing given the lack of cover and competition for Marcelo over the past three years or so, while the middle of the pitch is heavily stocked with aggressive defensive protection and scheming offensive creators.
Ceballos' addition brings balance, if not a vast amount of expected game time, and Mateo Kovacic should continue to impress when given the chance to replace any of Casemiro, Luka Modric or Toni Kroos—the 23-year-old Croatian really is a player for every role in the centre.
2 Key Areas
Up front and other defensive positions are the two areas where additions could be considered.
Morata and Mariano's exits mean there's no striking cover, and with all three of the main forwards taking time out injured last season it's an area Zidane must consider for reinforcements.
There's also the departures of Danilo and Pepe to consider; the versatile Nacho will offer cover in both roles, right-back and centre-back, but what of the games where both positions need covering? It will mean Zidane throws in a youngster, with Jesus Vallejo returning from loan to be fourth option in the middle and Castilla talent Alvaro Tejero promoted to back up Dani Carvajal on the right.
It's always good to give youth a chance, but too much reliance will, without question, mean Real fail to defend one major title or the other.
That's not to say the young players aren't good—Vallejo is rated as one of the finest defensive prospects in Spanish football, along with Jorge Mere, who left La Liga for Cologne this summer—but that the first XI options are the elite of European football.
It's natural there would be a drop-off, even if only in consistency and decision-making, if senior cover isn't sought.
Long-Running Links
David De Gea in goal looks set to be a rumour to run on for yet another season. It has been more than two years since the first links emerged, and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has already had to rebuff suggestions there is the possibility of a move ahead of 2017/18, per Simon Stone of BBC Sport.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a long-running target for the club, still waiting and holding out for his dream move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, as explained by Goal's Solace Chukwu.
But neither seems likely, this summer at least.
And there have been few, if any, credible defensive-based rumours whatsoever. Vallejo will get his chance—and Real Madrid's last signing, if they make just a single further addition, should come further forward.
A Very Public Chase
All these possibilities would give Madrid a boost, and in key zones of the pitch. But they all ignore the summer's biggest chase, a potential world-record fee and a superstar in the making.
It is Kylian Mbappe of AS Monaco who reigns supreme in media transfer rumour columns this year, with the forward enjoying a breakout season of such force and impression in 2016/17 that he's become the most wanted young attacker on the planet.
Carlos Carpio of Marca recently suggested Real Madrid had agreed a world-record fee of €180 million (£161 million) to sign the forward, while more recently it's Manchester City who seem to be in the running, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News.
The 18-year-old has scored just 16 times in Ligue 1, yet his style of play, the excitement he generates in possession and the fact he has already made an impact at the top level means he's one for now and the future.
There are two major reasons, and one minor reason, why it's Mbappe whom Real Madrid need to go after this summer.
The latter is easiest and quickest to state: Real Madrid have to go after the best because that's the club ethos. They haven't been big spenders under Zidane, but historically, they've bought the best, brightest, most expensive prospects and established names, whatever the cost—just so other clubs don't and can't catch them.
That's a superficial way to explain the interest, though.
The Perfect Fit
Tactically, Mbappe is a great potential addition.
Much of his upbringing came playing in from out on the left flank, cutting in with pace and direct running in the style he showed on his riotous performance for France against England at the end of 2016/17. Last season for Monaco, however, he was a centre-forward in a 4-4-2: running the channels, splitting defences and thriving through the middle with a stronger partner in Radamel Falcao.
At Madrid, Zidane has used both setups, the famed BBC attack of the 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 diamond later on last term after Gareth Bale's injury.
Mbappe, then, fits both options.
Put to the wider football world, it's the same story: Mbappe is the one.
"If #RealMadrid could make just ONE more signing this summer, nobody else,who should it be? Is it as obvious as it seems? #RMCF [@brfootball]
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) July 27, 2017"
La Liga writer Carlo Valladares highlighted why the teenager has, despite his tender years, already shown he can cut it at the top: "Even with Morata and James' departures, Los Blancos still have tremendous depth. They're strong in every area of the pitch, with difference-makers in all phases of play.
"They have loads of forward options, with Bale, Isco in certain phases against certain teams, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio.
"But Kylian Mbappe would be the signing I'd go with if I could only choose one. He troubled Juventus' defence at 18. Enough said."
It's a fair point; not every team has a player who can do that, let alone adding one who has done it to an attack that smashed Juve 4-1 in the most recent Champions League final.
Marca's Enrique Ortego, meanwhile, suggested Mbappe has all the features of the Madrid attack combined: the speed of Bale, movement of Cristiano Ronaldo and intelligence of Benzema. And goals. Plenty of goals.
To stay at the top, Real Madrid have to buy the best—and Mbappe seems destined for that bracket.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless stated.
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