Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso don make am clear say one solid defensive midfielder go be him top priority ahead of 2026, and the club hierarchy don already shortlist two players — one dream target and one cheaper backup plan.
Right now, nobody for Madrid squad dey play as natural defensive anchor behind Aurelien Tchouaméni. Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga fit fill in the gap sometimes, but none of dem really get that specialist defensive presence wey Alonso dey look for.
According to AS, Alonso don sharply point out the weakness to the club transfer board for Santiago Bernabéu, and dem don agree say 2026 go be the year to fix am once and for all.
For the top of the wish list na Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. The 21-year-old don dey shine for Selhurst Park, and plenty big European clubs don dey eye am. That one mean say if Madrid really wan sign am, dem go need pay serious money.
Crystal Palace dey try tie Wharton down with new contract wey go get release clause, but even with that, the price fit still too high for Madrid liking. Because of that, the club recruitment team don start dey look around for other options wey go still deliver quality but no too burst budget.
Wharton Joined on Shortlist by Former Real Madrid Player
If Wharton prove too expensive, Madrid dey plan to bring back 20-year-old Chema Andrés, one of their own academy graduates wey don impress since him summer move go Stuttgart.
Chema don talk before say him style dey similar to Rodri (Manchester City) and Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich). The young Spaniard join Stuttgart last summer for just €3 million ($3.5 million), but Madrid still get a buy-back clause worth €10 million, and dem dey expected to activate am next summer if Wharton transfer no work out.
Reports also talk say Madrid fit still bring back another familiar name — Nico Paz — wey currently dey play for Como. The Argentine attacking midfielder na one of Madrid’s former academy stars, and even though Los Blancos no use their purchase option this summer, dem don still tell am say their long-term plan na to bring am back to the Bernabéu by summer 2026.
Paz reportedly reject one mouth-watering €70 million offer from Tottenham Hotspur this year because him still dey wait for Madrid. The Spanish giants fit re-sign am for just €9 million in 2026, thanks to their existing buy-back clause. But if dem delay till 2027, the fee go rise to €10 million.
Bottom line? Xabi Alonso dey quietly build the next generation of Madrid midfield — a mix of discipline, technical control, and long-term planning. Whether na Wharton or Chema Andrés, the goal na to make sure the future of Los Blancos midfield dey secure beyond 2026.
