Julen Lopetegui is already working on planning the squad for the next season. The manager is missing the World Cup after he was shockingly axed by the Spanish Federation (RFEF) just two days before his debut in Russia. Now, Lopetegui has time to get ready for the new season and one of the hottest topics is the goalkeeper.
Since Keylor Navas arrival, the club is looking for a replacement. David De Gea, Thibaut Courtois, Kepa Arrizabalaga or Gianluigi Donnarumma were the best candidates, but now Real Madrid are more interested on Alisson Becker, the Brazilian goalkeeper playing for AS Roma this season. He was named the best goalie in the Serie A and he’s one of the best players in his position in Europe.
However, it won’t be easy to sign him. AS Roma arrived to the semifinals of the Champions League for the second time in their history last season and they are trying to build a great project with Monchi managing the signings. Alisson is a key player in the squad and Eusebio di Francesco, recently renewed, doesn’t want to lose him. For this reason, Roma is asking for €70M for the transfer, but Los Blancos are only willing to invest up to €50M.
Keylor Navas’ great level in the last months give some calm to the bosses at Bernabéu. However, they want to improve the squad and the competition in the goalkeeper position, and Alisson would be a key signing. Kiko Casilla is not a competitor for Navas, so the club keeps looking for a good fit for that position.
Besides, Zinedine Zidane left in June and he was the great defensor of Keylor Navas. The French manager said several times that the Costa Rican was his preferred goalkeeper and he even stopped Kepa’s signing in the Winter transfer window. With the French gone, there is space for signing another goalie, but it will be a tough decision because Keylor Navas was very important in the last three Champions League titles won by Los Blancos.