Real Madrid believe big-name signings generate as much money as they cost… so don’t be surprised if the likes of Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland are targeted to follow Kylian Mbappe through the door at the Bernabeu
- Kylian Mbappe is expected to seal a stunning move to Real Madrid from PSG
- His arrival could signal an overhaul at the club, despite their financial situation
- Players such as Gareth Bale and Isco could depart once their contracts are over
Sign a big player and, as night follows day, the big player demands other big players are brought in to play alongside him and make the team competitive.
The capture of Kylian Mbappe will not be Real Madrid’s last signing as they make up for lost time in the transfer market last summer.
Mbappe on a free in 2022 might have sparked a Galatico splurge the like of which not seen at Madrid since the club signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka all in one summer.
Kylian Mbappe is expected to complete a remarkable move to Real Madrid from PSG
Players such as Gareth Bale are expected to leave Madrid when their contract ends next year
But if Mbappe arrives for a huge fee now that takes away some of the club’s financial clout.
All the same new signings will be needed to boost a lightweight defence short of Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos this summer, and to rejuvenate an ageing midfield.
Real Madrid have four players in the final year of their contract. Gareth Bale will definitely leave at the end of this season freeing up around €30m (£26m) in terms of salary (€15.2m net to the player and what the club has to pay in tax).
Isco and Marcelo are also at the end of their deals and will not be renewed. And Luka Modric’s most recent contract means he and the club reassess his situation every summer so Madrid’s number 10 could move on too.
Midfield player Isco is another one who could be in his final year at Madrid this season
Isco earns around €6m (£5.1m) net, Marcelo €8m (£6.9m) net and Modric around €9m (£7.7m) so Madrid will have money to spend if only in wages.
They are already looking at Leon Goretzka whose contract runs out at Bayern next summer.
Paul Pogba will be back on the agenda albeit it with all the old caveats about the wages he will demand, the commission involved in his arrival and, perhaps most importantly whether – if he does leave Manchester United – Paris Saint Germain don’t sign him first.
Madrid will also need a central defender having left themselves with a shallow and slightly unconvincing pool of options post- Ramos, Varane. Not surprisingly however much of the talk in the last few days has not been able defensive recruitment.
Most clubs believe Erling Haaland’s contract has a 75m buy-out clause that kicks in 2022 and Madrid supporters want him up front with Mbappe.
Madrid may well target Erling Haaland is he remains at Dortmund for the rest of the season
Paul Pogba is in the final year of his contract at Manchester United and could be targeted
Haaland shares an agent with Pogba and his signing would throw up some of the same problems for Madrid although for an attacking force to compliment Mbappe they would be more prepared to go to the extravagant lengths that might be necessary.
The club have made plenty of the fact that they have not spent anything yet this summer and spent nothing last year. But they do have a €750m (£643m) stadium rebuild to start paying from July 2023 with payments of around €30m (£25.7m) a year until 2049.
The club have been busy renewing players with Casemiro become the eighth player to do so in the last three months. In part that is to raise buy-out clauses and ward off bids from PSG.
And in part it extends the time frame Madrid might otherwise have had to pay players who took a pay cut last season to help the club through the pandemic. In the summer attention will turn to adding to those staying with a raft of new arrivals.
Club president Florentino Perez’ philosophy has always been that big names generate as much as they cost. And they will not want to stop at Mbappe as they look to re-establish themselves as Europe’s top club on and off the pitch.
At present, Madrid’s defensive options are weak after Raphael Varane moved to Man United