Xabi Alonso has begun planning for his tenure as Real Madrid coach. According to AS, the current Bayer Leverkusen coach has asked the club’s management to make three signings to bolster the club next season.
Spanish media reported that Real Madrid’s management had settled on appointing Alonso as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, while the Spanish coach informed Leverkusen’s management of his desire to fulfill his dream and move to the Santiago Bernabéu.
According to the latest report, Alonso has asked Real Madrid to sign two Leverkusen players: Florian Wirtz and center-back Jonathan Tah.
Signing Tah will not be difficult, as the player’s contract with Leverkusen expires at the end of this season and he can join for free wherever he pleases. His salary will not be high or out of line with the Real Madrid salary scale.
However, the opposite appears to be true with the Wirtz deal, which has attracted interest from several major clubs, most notably Manchester City and Bayern Munich, and his sale price will not be less than €120 million, as previously announced by CEO Fernando Caro.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Wirtz may prefer to remain with Leverkusen until the 2026 World Cup. Some German reports even suggest he will renew his contract soon to end the controversy and focus on the pre-World Cup season.
The third name Alonso has identified as a potential signing for Real Madrid is Martin Zubimendi, who can leave for just €60 million next summer, the value of his release clause with Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid’s initial plans for next summer are to sign a left-back and a midfielder to try to fill the gap left by Toni Kroos’ retirement. It is also said that the club may be interested in signing a center-back as well.
