Florentino's plan to sign Rodri involves waiting, there are 2 possible dates

The name that has returned strongly to Real Madrid transfer rumors is Rodrigo Hernández. The Manchester City deep-lying playmaker would fit perfectly into Xabi Alonso's latest request, who is asking for a defensive and creative midfielder to strengthen its midfield.

While it is true that Arda Güler is beginning to take the first steps on the path to establishing himself as Toni Kroos's heir, he is not ready yet. At least not to face, almost alone, the best-established clubs in the European soccer elite. That conclusion was drawn in the most forceful way possible: the thrashing suffered against PSG.

That defeat in the Club World Cup semifinals has reactivated two transfer targets in the Valdebebas offices. One is another center-back, who can partner with Dean Huijsen in the heart of the white defense, and the other is a creative midfielder to support or even replace Güler. The situation surrounding Rodrigo Hernández doesn't have an easy solution.

So much so that there would be two plans to try to secure his services. The first is to hold out until the last week of the transfer window: then Real Madrid would make an offer. According to the newspaper As, the strategy could work given that Florentino Pérez is a "master at this kind of deal".

We'll see what happens

"Late offers force recipients to make quick decisions, and in many cases it works", this sports outlet warns. If that plan is discarded, or if the late offer doesn't have the desired success, the second option is to wait until the summer of 2026. The scenario for signing the Spanish deep-lying midfielder would change radically in less than a year.

Not only because the footballer's market value could drop to a range acceptable for Madrid's finances: between €60 and €80 million. That drop in his valuation in the European soccer elite would be linked to the proximity of the end of his contract, which expires completely in the summer of 2027.

With those two factors "in its favor", Real Madrid could make a lower offer that would put considerable pressure on Manchester City. Not only because of the drop in the price to be paid for the Spanish "16", but also because of the possibility of losing that player as a free agent just a year later.

This latter situation would offer much more advantage to Real Madrid than an attempt, in the final weeks of the window, to sign Rodrigo Hernández. Only time and the deliberations in the Valdebebas offices will be able to shed light on this double path to secure the services of the Madrid-born footballer as soon as possible.