According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid is unlikely to sign a new central defender during the current summer transfer window.
The club’s initial plan was to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro, but the Frenchman ultimately chose to join Manchester United.
Real Madrid has since been linked with several defenders, but the issue remains that the Spanish club is unwilling to pay more than 25 million euros for a new defender.
According to the latest report, all signs indicate that Real will rely on Jesús Vallejo as the backup defender next season.
Vallejo spent last season on loan at Granada, and his contract runs until the summer of 2025. He has informed the club of his desire to stay even if he doesn’t play much.
Given the central defensive crisis, manager Carlo Ancelotti has tentatively decided to rely on Vallejo as the fourth option after Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, and David Alaba.
Vallejo is likely to get plenty of playing time due to Alaba’s long absence until the beginning of next year and will look to prove himself in the hope of signing a new contract at the Santiago Bernabéu.
It’s worth noting that reports at the beginning of the summer indicated that Ancelotti rejected the idea of keeping Vallejo, but the inability to sign a new defender was enough to change the Italian’s mind and keep the player.
