Real Madrid Transfer News: Lucas Silva a Fine Fit to Replace Sami Khedira

Real Madrid are likely to be without Sami Khedira in the near future with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2015.

He has been linked with a move to Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, per Bruce Archer in the Daily Star. Meanwhile, Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) linked him to Serie A champions Juventus.

What seems in little doubt is that—whether he is sold in January or released for free next summer—the 27-year-old World Cup winner is unlikely to sign a new contract at the Bernabeu, per Simon Johnson in The Independent.

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Thus, after the departure of Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich in the summer, Real look set to be quite short in the defensive midfield department.

It seems they already have an eye on a replacement, namely Cruzeiro's Lucas Silva, whom Marca (h/t the Daily Mail) report is at the top of Los Blancos' list:

Marca have already mentioned the potential move to the 21-year-old, and he—unsurprisingly—seems very receptive to the idea:

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Of course I'd like to play for Real Madrid, it would be an honour. But for that to happen, an agreement between the clubs would need to be put in place first. I'm a Cruzeiro player and have so much respect for my club. If a club like Real Madrid came along, I wouldn't turn them down. 

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Furthermore, former Madrid player and a current teammate of Silva, Julio Baptista, has suggested that the youngster would be a fine fit and a good recruitment for Real, per Marca (via Goal.com's Sacha Pisani):

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It would be a wise move. The first day I saw him I knew he was a player that would turn heads and I told him so. 

He's a two touch player, a quality that would fit right in Spain or the Premier League. In Brazil, players hog the ball, but Lucas plays it quickly. 

He is ready to make the giant leap to Europe and into a big club like Madrid, but he needs time to settle, because it's not an easy club. 

But in terms of footballing ability, there's no doubt he'd fit in very nicely at Real Madrid. He's a player brimming with talent.

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Indeed, one of the key factors that might be off-putting to boss Carlo Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez concerning Silva is his youth and lack of experience at the top level.

It has historically been the method at Real to sign proven quality for big money—as seen this summer with the signings of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.

However, Lucas' potential is such that he seems an ideal fit at the Bernabeu. It would be a refreshing change for the Madrid outfit to sign a young player with great potential.

It would also seem intelligent to sign a player who would not to cost ludicrous amounts of money—Marca report €15 million—or be averse to playing himself into the team and sitting on the bench from time to time.

With Kroos and Luka Modric in the team, a newly arrived Silva would not get automatic first-team play, but that is unlikely to upset him as it would an established superstar.

Most importantly however, Silva looks to be a top-class player in an area that Real need to strengthen. He is a superb passer of the ball with fantastic vision and a fine ability to switch play from defence to attack.

Silva is a box-to-box player who can provide well creatively, but as football writer Sergi Dominguez points out, he can also provide a strong physical presence in the middle of the park:

It is the defensive aspect of Silva's game that makes him a particularly good fit at Real. Los Blancos are currently lacking some balance, as they have many players who are at their best going forward.

Kroos and Modric in the middle are both at their best in a more advanced role, leaving a possible gap between midfield and defence.

Silva could fill that gap, as Alonso and Khedira have done in the past, as well as providing the incisive passes to start a trademark Real counter-attack.

While Silva is still very young, he could find no better place to hone his skills than at the Bernabeu. Real would benefit hugely from signing him up.