5 players Real Madrid should have targeted in January

#4 Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad)

Odriozola was an upgrade on Achraf Hakimi

At the beginning of the season, when Dani Carvajal was out with a medical condition, Real Madrid's soft defensive underbelly was badly exposed. Castilla product Achraf Hakimi was straightway thrown into the ring and though he looks talented, Hakimi does not seem prepared, at the moment, to be playing for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid need a solid youthful deputy for Dani Carvajal who can challenge the Spaniard for the no.1 spot and also take over from him in the future. Madrid did not have to look elsewhere than La Liga for one such right back. Alvaro Odriozola of Real Sociedad is a player who could have solved Madrid's problems to some extent.

The 22-year-old is considered by many as the next big thing to emerge from the league and is expected to play at a bigger club sooner rather than later. Odriozola has an eye for a pass, is confident on the ball but at the same time, he is defensively strong with his positioning often helping out Sociedad in crunch moments.

Odriozola would have definitely been an upgrade on Hakimi and might have even challenged Carvajal for a starting berth.