Neither Saliba nor Konaté: the LaLiga center-back Xabi Alonso wants to sign right now

Real Madrid continues its participation in the Club World Cup without neglecting other aspects of building its sports projects. One of the most sensitive issues is the signing of a center-back, brought back by Xabi Alonso... even though he already has Dean Huijsen as a brand-new addition under his command.

Injuries to as many as three center-backs with whom it has arrived at the competition in the United States, as well as David Alaba's departure next summer, have motivated that request. From the Valdebebas offices, they still aren't sure which player to focus on, although the main candidate for the club's executives is none other than Ibrahima Konaté, a Liverpool player.

The French defender is a possible target for the club not only because of his great quality as a defender: his contract ends with the red squad, at least for now, in a year. Real Madrid aims to repeat the move made with Trent Alexander-Arnold and seek his arrival on a free transfer. He isn't the only player for whom they hope to execute that strategy.

The club's sporting management also keeps an eye on William Saliba, a French player who is highly regarded in the Valdebebas offices. The end of his current contract is set for mid-2027, so he also is part of the overall plan to renew, in just three years, the club's defense.

Ideal alternative

In addition to understanding the plans created by the executives led by Florentino Pérez, Xabi Alonso has left several transfer requests to be considered in upcoming recruitment meetings. One of the most relevant is that of a LaLiga player who, like Ibrahima Konaté, ends his current contract in the summer of 2026: the Valencia player Christian Mosquera.

This young center-back has become one of the standouts of the Levantine squad and the Spanish U-21 national team, where he has achieved more than notable successes. His track record with his club and national team has attracted Xabi Alonso's attention, who reportedly has identified Mosquera as a priority signing for the defense.

The complicated institutional and financial situation that Valencia is going through adds more ease to the sale of Christian Mosquera. Far from refusing to sell the promising center-back, the leaders headed by Kiat Lim could accept negotiations for a footballer whose market value is €30 million.

In this context, Xabi Alonso is paving the way for a generational change at the heart of the defense with his latest proposal. It doesn't seem that the original plan, waiting for the free signings of Konaté and Saliba, will be altered by this approach... although the brilliant performance of the Valencia "3" could change the plans of the club's top management.