Real Madrid Transfer Rumours: Ranking Their Right-Back Targets (with Video)

Real Madrid have reportedly (in English here) drawn up a list of seven right-back transfer targets, with Gregory van der Wiel of Ajax and Rafinha of Bayern Munich priority options.

Other names on the list, made by their scouts, include England stars Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) and Glen Johnson (Liverpool), along with Mauricio Isla of Udinese.

FC Porto defender Danilo and Mario Fernandes of Gremio are the two final names on the list.

Los Merengues clearly need a new right-back, with Alvaro Arbeloa something of a stop-gap solution and Sergio Ramos playing an increasing amount of games at centre-back.

The above names are the seven transfer targets for Real Madrid, but which ones would be best for Jose Mourinho's team? 

Read on to find out.

7. Mario Fernandes (Gremio)

Mario Fernandes is a centre-back by trade, but has proven himself equally as effective at right-back.

The 21-year-old has great positional awareness, and has that eye for the right kind of pass which can set a winger free—a quality many defenders in world football lack, and one which could help bring out even more assists in the likes of Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and even Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Madrid's main weakness at the moment is their defensive ability on the wings, with Los Merengues giving away too many chances from the flanks.

Their main priority is a top-quality tackler and interceptor of the ball. Fernandes would be very much a signing for the future, as he needs to work on those aspects of his game.

But seeing as Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, FC Porto, CSKA Moscow, Ajax and AS Roma have all apparently been linked with him, Real might want to snap him up soon.

6. Danilo (Porto)

At the age of 20, Danilo Luiz da Silva (or just Danilo) has already made over 120 professional appearances, including 80 for one of Brazil's top teams, Santos, where he was the regular starting right-back.

He made the switch to FC Porto in December 2011, but there's a feeling he could very much be on the move again if the right offer comes in.

He's also been capped four times by Brazil, and has been dubbed the new Maicon.

As you can see from the video, he is a player with a penchant for the truly spectacular, possessing phenomenal shot power and accuracy from distance.

He's also a great dribbler of the ball and works well with the winger—it's no surprise that Santos also played him in midfield.

However, like a lot of Brazilian defenders, his defensive contribution needs to improve before he can really cut it at European standard.

5. Glen Johnson (Liverpool)

Most people in football follow or at least know of the Premier League and Liverpool, so Glen Johnson doesn't need a video to showcase his skills.

Why he's on Real Madrid's shortlist is a bit of a mystery, given that his defensive contribution—the main thing Real want to correct on the wings—isn't up to the team's current standard.

He would add more steel to the wings for Real however, and is a better full-back going forward, putting into the penalty area more accurate crosses than most of Madrid's full-backs combined.

He also has better ability at setting the winger free with an accurate long pass, and has worked with Jose Mourinho previously at Chelsea.

4. Rafinha (Bayern Munich)

This video, which was doing the rounds on YouTube shortly after Rafinha signed for Bayern Munich, showed the former Genoa full-back scoring an absolute beauty against Sampdoria.

He's scored once for Bayern Munich (in a Champions League game at Villarreal), and when he does find the net it's usually a stunner.

That's just one part of the diminutive Brazilian's attacking game, as the 26-year-old is a great player going forward and something of a playmaker from the wing, hitting seven accurate long balls per game on average.

He's a better player going forward than all of Real's defenders, and his long balls could see even more assists from the team's wingers, but again he's another player whose defensive contribution isn't as good as it should be.

3. Mauricio Isla (Udinese)

Mauricio Isla contributes even less defensively than a lot of the guys on this list, and isn't much of a right-back, but what makes him so good in that position is his calculated approach to his defensive duty.

Isla only tackles when the time is right, and is one of the most accurate tacklers in Serie A, and while he doesn't intercept too often, when he does it's usually crucial.

And going forward Isla is the best of all the other players on this list so far.

On average he creates two direct goal scoring chances for his teammates every game, and works up a great understanding with teammates on the wing.

Combined with his versatility, the 23-year-old Chile international would be a very good signing for Real Madrid.

2. Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Dubbed the 'English Roberto Carlos', it's no wonder Real Madrid are interested in Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker.

The 21-year-old is developing at as high a rate as Gareth Bale currently, and has a great all-round game to him.

Walker provides the defensive contribution Real need, winning 2.5 tackles per game on average and making at least two interceptions per match.

Going forward, he's made 22 key passes (direct goal scoring chances for teammates) this season, and whacks in more accurate crosses than most full-backs in the Premier League. 

Given his age, his track record already, the very clear potential he has to get even better, and the phenomenal resale value he will one day have, Walker is a player Real should definitely try to sign.

1. Gregory Van Der Wiel (Ajax)

There's a reason why Gregory van der Wiel is at the top of this list, and is so sought after by clubs all across Europe.

The 24-year-old is one of the best right-backs in the game at the moment and possesses an abundance of talent in both attack and defence.

He doesn't make the amount of tackles the majority of Real's defenders do, but his calculated approach to tackling makes him just as valuable, while his ability to intercept is almost unrivalled in the game—at least for a full-back.

In the UEFA Champions League this season, van der Wiel made on average 3.5 key interceptions per match.

Going forward, he also has a better eye for a key pass than most natural defenders, and can whack in a very accurate cross, which has seen him claim three assists in the Eredivisie this season.

He's also another player who works up a great understanding with the winger, and has a great eye for hitting balls over the opposition full-back to set his teammate on the flank free.

In essence, van der Wiel is one of the most complete full-backs out there, and should definitely be Real's top transfer target.