Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić spent the better part of a decade making Real Madrid’s engine room look effortless. Nobody has come close to replicating it, and after a miserable season at the Bernabéu, Carlo Ancelotti’s side head into the summer needing a genuine answer in the middle of the park.
Here are nine targets, ranked by likelihood.
9. Vitinha
The Portugal international is, arguably, the best player in the world at what he does. PSG have him under contract until 2029 and have reached back-to-back Champions League finals. He is not leaving. This is a pipe dream.
8. Nicolò Barella
Barella turns 30 next year and is locked into Inter until 2029. He has registered eight assists in Serie A this season — only two players have bettered that — but his age and price point make him a difficult sell for a club that wants a long-term solution.
7. Adam Wharton
The Crystal Palace midfielder emerged from the Championship two seasons ago and has not stopped. He played at Euro 2024, contributed to Palace’s FA Cup win, and has been central to their Conference League run this term. His deep-lying profile draws obvious comparisons to Kroos, but he is yet to play at the highest level — and an English player in the Premier League will always carry a premium that may not be justified at this stage.
6. Enzo Fernández
A January pipe dream is starting to look like a genuine possibility. Chelsea are in disarray, Fernández has not hidden his admiration for Madrid, and there is talk of a summer sale. He was signed for a British record fee in 2023, so the cost remains astronomical — but the option exists in a way it simply did not six months ago.
5. Rodri —
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is the dream candidate: a Ballon d’Or winner who controls games, wins things, and carries himself with rare professionalism. There are reports he could seek an exit from Manchester City a year before his contract expires in 2027. There are also reports he could extend. He turns 30 in June, and his ACL recovery means Madrid would be buying a player who has not played a competitive minute since September. The ceiling is extraordinary. The risk is real.
4. Bernardo Silva
Silva leaves City as a free agent this summer after nine seasons and six league titles. He is 31, versatile across multiple midfield roles, and offers exactly the kind of leadership and professionalism Madrid need in their dressing room. His agent Jorge Mendes has already offered his services to both Madrid and Barcelona. This is the most obvious deal in the window.
3. Kees Smit
The 21-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder is being talked about as one of the most exciting young players in European football. He made his Netherlands senior debut in March, having dominated the Under-19 Euros last summer as top scorer and Player of the Tournament. Rafael van der Vaart has said publicly that Smit will end up at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Reports suggest he could be available for around €40 million. The one complication: Smit is reportedly a boyhood Barcelona fan.
2. Alexis Mac Allister
The World Cup winner has endured a difficult season at Liverpool amid a chaotic transition year on Merseyside. He is 27, capable of operating as a deep pivot or in a more advanced role, and Liverpool have not opened renewal talks despite his contract running until 2028. He is said to be open to a move. So, reportedly, are Liverpool — for the right price.
1. Nico Paz
Madrid hold a buyback option on Paz and almost everyone expects them to use it. The 21-year-old left for Como last summer and has delivered 12 goals in a single Serie A season under Cesc Fàbregas as the club push for Champions League qualification. The question is not whether he returns — it is where exactly he fits in Ancelotti’s system. His signing alone will not be enough.
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