Low-Cost Undercover that Real Madrid Could Transfer Instead of Wirtz, Total Surprise

Florian Wirtz's renewal, announced earlier this week in Germany, has caused Real Madrid to lose much interest in transfering him next summer. The changes in the transfer market roadmap had already relegated him several places, but that decision would've sentenced him definitively.

Because the expensive operation to transfer the Bayer Leverkusen number 10 right now doesn't make sense and doesn't fit into the sporting project. According to multiple sources, the executives led by Florentino Pérez are still looking for the arrival of a creative defensive midfielder.

The idea is to find a replacement for Toni Kroos, who will retire in the summer of 2024, as soon as possible. The urgent need to strengthen the defense is also not forgotten, as this season the club is suffering from a shortage of personnel that puts current competitive aspirations in jeopardy.

All of Real Madrid's 'debts' in the transfer market next summer imply a significant expenditure of the budget set for transfers. That would be another reason to rule out the arrival of Florian Wirtz, whose transfer could exceed 100 million euros, price set by the club.

Now or never

But the fact that Florian Wirtz has lost ground since he joined the club doesn't mean that the intentions to strengthen that position in the team have been abandoned. Now they are looking for a much more affordable alternative, which could well be among the recommendations that Zinédine Zidane gave three years ago.

The Franco-Algerian coach, during the last months of his second spell as Real Madrid coach, strongly requested the transfer of Rayan Cherki. The operation, although it seemed to yield great results for the future, ended up being discarded: it didn't fit into the planning at that time.

Now could be the time for Real Madrid's sporting management to bet on Rayan Cherki. His incorporation would fit with almost all the guidelines established by the top brass: versatile, with experience in Europe and who can provide quality and longevity in equal parts. The only requirement he doesn't meet is being Spanish: like Zidane, he is French.

But there's not much time. Olympique Lyon's financial problems force them to rush his renewal, a deal that would establish a termination clause of 100 million euros. That price is too high for a Real Madrid that, if they intervene in the January 2025 market, could get his services for just 30 million.