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After becoming the first team to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies in the modern era, Real Madrid have had their worst start to a football season since 2001. They have clearly not been able to cope up after the departure of their coach Zinedine Zidane and the club's all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid are currently 9th in LaLiga standings with 0 goal difference. They've also fired Julen Lopetegui who was supposed to replace Zidane because of his poor run. Santiago Solari has been appointed as the interim manager. Despite the club's poor start, there is still enough time left to recover.
At this stage of the season, nothing is won or lost. Real Madrid can still save their season. There is a clear need to make new signings for Real Madrid to come back to winning ways.
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The core of the team is ageing with players like Ramos, Marcelo, Modric and Benzema all above the age of 30. Players like Kroos, Varane and Casemiro look demotivated on the pitch as they've accomplished so much at a young age.
There is also a lack of depth in the squad. In 2016-17, Real Madrid won the Champions League and league double because they boasted perhaps the world's best bench strength. There is also no time to develop young players. Hence Real Madrid must make some signings to avoid going trophyless this season.
Here are 5 players Real Madrid can target in order to save their season.
#5 Theo Hernandez
Real Madrid bought Theo from city rivals Atletico Madrid after the 2016-17 season as a replacement of Fabio Coentrao. He is currently loaned to Real Sociedad. He was loaned because he was getting fewer minutes despite his talent. He is a pacy left-back who is not afraid to take on opponents with his skills.
In the past few years, most of the goals which Real have conceded are through the left flank. This is mainly because of Marcelo's habit to play a much more attacking game than any other left back.
Opponents always tend to take advantage of this fact. With Marcelo getting older and losing his pace it's becoming more difficult for him to cover the whole pitch for 90 minutes.
With an ageing, and adventurous Marcelo and inexperienced and unimpressive Sergio Reguilon, Real Madrid can definitely use the help of Theo Hernandez to increase their depth. However, Hernandez will return to Madrid next season unless he can be recalled in the winter transfer window.
#4 Kalidou Koulibaly
Real Madrid have not been able to fill the void in their defence after Pepe left. With 32-year-old Ramos and injury prone Varane, Real Madrid could definitely use Napoli's Koulibaly. Koulibaly has been a beast for Napoli and he is also one of the best defenders in the Serie A. He is 27 years old which means that he has enough experience to play for Real Madrid every week and also has 5 years of his prime left.
With rumours of Antonio Conte becoming Los Blanco's next coach, Koulibaly will be the perfect player to play in a three-man defence with Ramos and Varane.
Even if Conte doesn't join Real, they should pursue Koulibaly as a world-class team like Real Madrid should have three world-class centre-backs. With Vallejo who spends most of his time injured and Nacho who has to cover up for all the defensive positions, Koulibaly would be a good find for the struggling club.
#3 Neymar
The best players always play for the best clubs. This makes Real Madrid and Neymar a perfect match even though the Spanish club is far from their best right now.
Neymar could be a good replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo and also has the potential to solve the club's goalscoring problem.
With PSG on the brink of Champions League exit in the group stage, Neymar's move to Real Madrid now looks closer than it ever was. With Ronaldo gone, Madrid struggling to score goals and PSG struggling at the European stage, Neymar moving to Real would be perfect for both the club and the player.
For Neymar, there would be no better time to join the Los Blancos than this winter and help them save their season and prove his worth. He already has plenty of experience and also knows the league very well. He will provide the leadership which Real lacks in the final third.
#2 Kylian Mbappe
The 19-year-old French golden boy has impressed everyone with his talent. He is currently the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues with ten goals. He has already won two league titles with two different clubs.
He has also won the FIFA World Cup. He is currently the most exciting prospect in the football world with the potential to become the best one day. He has always been a great fan of Ronaldo. Hence, it would be like a fairy tale for him to replace his idol at one of the greatest clubs in the world.
His fast pace and ability to score and assist in every match will make him the ideal replacement for Cristiano. He will provide the decisiveness which Los Blanco's lack in the final third.
He can score goals for the club for more than the next ten years and hence this will be a very good investment. Therefore, this transfer will suit both the club and the player.
#1 Mauro Icardi
The 25-year-old Argentine striker would be the ideal and realistic replacement of Ronaldo. He would be much cheaper than Neymar or Mbappe and he has also been racking up goals for Inter Milan. He is surely one of the best finishers and scores whenever his team needs him.
Cristiano Ronaldo had shifted his role from a winger to a striker in his last few years with Real Madrid. That's exactly how Icardi plays. He is a traditional fox in the box. He waits in the final third and scores whenever he gets an opportunity.
Creating chances has not been a problem for Los Blancos this season. The issue which they're facing is of poor finishing. Icardi will be able to solve this problem and his link up with Benzema's playmaking skills will create a deadly duo.
