Three potential left-backs for Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid

The Xabi Alonso era yet to begin at Real Madrid but the club have already made two signings ahead of the summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will join on a free transfer in the summer, while the club are closing in on Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.

Much has been made of Alonso’s playing style and his desire to implement an unorthodox 3-4-2-1 system, utilising wing-backs and three centre-backs.

Real desperately need reinforcements at centre-half; Eder Militao is recovering from a long knee injury, Lucas Vazquez is 34 years old in the summer, while Antonio Rudiger is 32 years old and has just undergone knee surgery, meaning Huijsen might not be the only defensive arrival.

Alonso will be blessed with midfield options for his double pivot, with Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde vying for game time, while the front three will comprise of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

Rodrygo is thought to be contemplating an exit which will raise funds to strengthen the side elsewhere.

While Alexander-Arnold looks a natural fit at wing-back, the other flank looks like a significant problem area with neither Ferland Mendy nor Fran Garcia looking at the required level for Alonso’s system, and we’ve taken a look at three targets for the club in the summer transfer window.

Alvaro Carreras

The most obvious target for Real Madrid will be Manchester United academy graduate Alvaro Carreras.

The 22-year-old had spells on loan away from Old Trafford at Preston, Granada and Benfica before making the permanent move to Portugal last summer.

While Carreras showed potential at United, he’s blossomed into the finished product at Benfica and looks ready to take the next step.

There’s always the potential issue of a player’s talents not transferring from smaller leagues, but Fernandez has also shone in the UEFA Champions League.

Where the move gets interesting is that as part of the £5m fee he was sold for, United have a £15m buy-back clause inserted into the deal.

Benfica are thought to be after €50m for Carreras, but there have been suggestions that Real Madrid will work with United to activate the clause before selling him to Real Madrid on a cut-price deal.

Alex Grimaldo

What better fit for Alonso’s system than the wing-back he used at Bayer Leverkusen? If Real Madrid are unsuccessful in bringing in Benfica’s currently left-back they may well look to a former left-back.

Alex Grimaldo was sensational in his maiden campaign in Germany, scoring 10 goals and laying on 13 assists in Leverkusen’s title-winning 2023/24 season, and while Alonso’s system meant that Grimaldo was more of a winger than a full-back, the numbers are still incredibly impressive.

The numbers dropped off this term, with just two goals and seven assists, but it could make a deal more likely with his asking price likely knocked down a few points.

The primary issue would be that Grimaldo turns 30 shortly after the start of the season and wouldn’t represent a long-term signing.

But as a short-term signing who Alonso knows and trusts, Grimaldo could fit the bill.

Milos Kerkez

Should the deal for Carreras fall through and the Spanish giants want a longer-term option than Grimaldo, the club may be interested in another Bournemouth star after snapping up Huijsen.

Milos Kerkez has come of age this season on the south coast and is expected to move to Liverpool, who are seeking left-back reinforcements of their own.

Liverpool are 4/6 to sign Kerkez, who’s 3/1 to stay at Bournemouth beyond the summer.

Real Madrid are currently 8/1 to sign the 21-year-old, but if a move for Carreras doesn’t go ahead, that price will likely shorten significantly, and as we’ve already seen in recent weeks, if Real Madrid want a player, they usually get them.

Liam Williams

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