5 top goalkeepers Real Madrid could target to replace Keylor Navas

Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez is supposed to be basking in the euphoria of the team's third consecutive UEFA Champions League title. However, the unexpected resignation of the mastermind of these three titles, Zinedine Zidane has thrown the club's best-laid plans into disarray.

With no new manager in sight (Juvenil A coach and club legend Jose Maria Guti appears to be the first choice), the club's plans at refreshing certain parts of the team have been put on hold.

When the dust has settled eventually, one key area the club would need to work on is that of the goalkeeper. Costa Rican numero uno Keylor Navas has been a very good goalie for Los Merengues but due to his age (31 years) and a tendency for fumbles at certain times, he will need to be replaced.

Current number two Kiko Casilla and reserve goalie Luca Zidane have shown nothing to suggest that they can become the club's safest pair of hands. With the cub seemingly ready to move on from the never-ending David de Gea saga, here are 5 options Real could be looking at instead:

#5 Karlo Letica (Hajduk Split)

The youngster would be an intriguing choice

One of the most intriguing names to have been added to the list of goalies being targetted by the world's biggest and most successful football club, the young 21-year-old has been making waves in his homeland.

An absolute giant of a goalkeeper (standing at 2.02m), Karlo has been earning rave reviews for performances that belie his age and it is almost certain that despite having made his professional debut just last year, he will be leaving Split sooner rather than later.

He is an agile youngster who is quick off his line to close down the opposition strikers and is capable of making great saves look routine. Like all youngsters, there are things he needs to improve on such as distribution and decision making.

However, these should not distract from his enormous potential and getting him in now would be a smart move for Real Madrid. Letica could spend next season understudying Navas and manning the posts in certain games (like in the Copa del Rey).

Depending on how fast he comes along, the 2019/2020 season could then be when he takes over the mantle of numero uno from the Costa Rican captain.

Real have gone the way of youth in recent years and getting in the Croatian (a potential transfer fee is rumoured to be £8m) would be a good step in securing the team's goalkeeping future for the next decade at least

#4 Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao)

Kepa is THE Spanish goalie that could step in for Real

The young custodian between the sticks for one of Spain’s most storied clubs, Kepa has long been spoken of in glowing terms by regular watchers of La Liga.

A lot of pundits in Spain had already concluded that the youngster was going to join Madrid in January as he had just entered the last 6 months of his contract at San Mames and was available for a giveaway price of €20m.

Zidane, however, was said to have been against this as he felt that Navas was doing a great job so the deal was never done. Kepa signed a new contract to stay with Los Leones (The Lions as Athletic are known) till 2025 with a release clause of €80 million.

With the French maestro no longer at the helm of affairs at the club, Perez could be tempted to go for Spain's 3rd choice again but Athletic will demand that the full clause which might be a sticking point in negotiations.

Blessed with quick reflexes, fantastic positioning, and a fearlessness to come out and get the ball (an unusual trait among Spanish goalkeepers), Kepa would make an awesome long-term numero uno for the Whites and would be an instant upgrade to Navas.

#3 Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

Gigio could be an instant hit at the Bernabeu

The golden boy of goalkeeping at the top echelon of European football, big things have been expected from the youngster ever since his 6 ft 5 frame was sighted in goal for the Rossoneri during a Serie A game against Sassuolo in 2015.

Agile, fast off his feet with a good command of his penalty area and the ability to make superlative saves look routine, the youngster definitely looks to be headed to the top of world football and his signing would provide long-term security for Los Merengues.

In Donnarumma, Real Madrid will be getting a very good goalie who still has a lot to learn before he finally becomes the world-class goalie everyone believes he can become.

There were rumours already linking him to the Santiago Bernabeu side before the beginning of last season but the youngster with super agent Mino Raiola finally signed a new contract.

With AC Milan looking troubled (might be hit with sanctions by UEFA for FFP violations), the new Azzurri numero uno might be available for a cheaper sum.

#2 Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)

Courtois would represent an instant upgrade for Real

The Belgian goalkeeper has been perhaps the most linked goalie to Real Madrid and with his contract issues still unresolved at Chelsea, it might be a move that could suit the Whites.

The Belgian number one had a very productive three years at Real's city rivals; Atletico and is said to love living in Madrid.

Given the issues revolving around the Blues with Roman Abramovich's visa issues, the is-he-staying-or-going issues with Antonio Conte and the general chaos around the club, the rumors of his departure have continued to grow.

Undoubtedly one of the pre-eminent goalies in world football, the 26-year-old has all the attributes of a world-class goalie and would provide an instant upgrade to Navas.

Agile, good with his hands and feet, brilliant at crosses and starting counterattacks with his throws and passing, Courtois' presence in goal could be a big boost for Real's defence. This would encourage the fullbacks to push forward even more and help in overloading the attack.

It is unclear how much Chelsea will demand with the player entering the last year of his contract next season. Real's president Perez, would look to avoid a repeat of the Kepa situation and may make his move soon.

#1 Alisson Becker (AS Roma)

Alisson is said to prefer a move to Madrid

Perhaps the most talked about goalie in terms of transfers (alongside Atletico's Jan Oblak), the 25-year-old looks set to become the central character in a transfer saga.

Alisson's star has really come to the fore in the last two years as he has become one of the best goalkeepers in world football. A goalkeeper who is not shy to make his feelings known to the players around him, Alisson commands his area brilliantly just like past greats.

His confidence could allow the new Real Madrid manager the opportunity to play younger members of the team's defence like Jesus Vallejo, Achraf Hakimi, Theo Hernandez, and co.

Navas is a good goalkeeper but he has never transmitted the kind of confidence that Alisson has, a reason why Zidane did not trust the young defenders to start matches except due to injuries.

He has amazing reflexes, is excellent in one-on-one situations and would be an attacking asset with his brilliant passing range (long and short) from defence. This would help Real in building from the back especially in games where Toni Kroos may be unavailable to thread passes from deep in the midfield.

Real Madrid is said to have shown serious interest in acquiring the Brazilian's signature, and he has spoken of his admiration for the club at various times. However, AS Roma will not sell cheaply and a price of £79m (new transfer record for goalies) may have to be paid for Perez to get his man.

Who do you think Real Madrid should target in the summer? Let us know in the comments.