5 defenders Real Madrid should buy in January

#2 Jorge Mere - FC Koln

Real Madrid CF v Real Sporting de Gijon - La Liga

Real Madrid already have 4 centre-backs this season, with Nacho and Jesus Vallejo serving as back-ups. However, Nacho's versatility means that he will often end up covering the full-back positions, leaving Vallejo as the only backup option.

Jorge Mere has been an integral part of Spain's youth team setups over the last few seasons, and a mainstay of the Sporting Gijon defence in La Liga last season, where his performances resulted in a club record sale to FC Koln for €9 million. However, the promising youngster has struggled to adapt to life in Germany and may be eyeing a return.

Real Madrid could pounce with a cut-price deal for Mere, which would bring in promising backup for very little at the moment, and a prospect to challenge for a first-team place in the future. It's a strategy pursued by Florentino Perez at the moment, and Mere ought to be the next in line.