Transfers

Real Madrid’s 2024 January transfer window wishlist

Real Madrid’s 2023/24 campaign has been an unusual one so far, mainly due to the surprise challenge of Girona who have managed to lead the La Liga title race much longer than anyone would have expected.

Madrid have been powerful enough to establish a seven-point lead over current champions Barcelona by the winter break, also winning all six games in their Champions League group, but there is a feeling that a few tweaks could bring more in the second half of the season.

The confusion around Carlo Ancelotti’s future with Los Blancos is another reason why the general vibe around Madrid is not overwhelmingly positive, but the first half of the campaign should be viewed as progress on last season.

Here are the areas Madrid may want to address in January and which players could be targeted.

Santiago Gimenez
Gimenez seems destined for a move / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
Any big club in search of a new striker will be very aware that Madrid are in the same boat and possess an almost unmatched pulling power. There is a clear gap in Ancelotti’s squad which was created by Karim Benzema’s departure.

Stop-gap signing Joselu has done a solid job so far but Madrid desire a new headline-making striker, not only to score goals but free up Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who have both had to play narrower than they would like in 2023/24 so far.

Key targets
The obvious attacking target for Madrid is Kylian Mbappe. While not a classic central striker, the Paris Saint-Germain forward would have the team moulded to his needs and the potential link-up with Jude Bellingham, Vinicius and Rodrygo is incredibly exciting. It’s a saga that reignites each transfer window and the interest remains.

Madrid have also been linked with Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez, who has been impressing over the past 18 months, but face competition from other clubs around Europe. Other names like Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez can never be ruled off Madrid’s radar.

Alphonso Davies
Davies could be on the market / Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia are Madrid’s two clear options on the left of defence. The former has worked really hard to recover from injury but still hasn’t done enough to stop the rumours swirling over interest in a new left-back.

Garcia has done a good job when called upon this season but at 24 years old, there is realistically little more development to come. It’s no surprise Madrid have been linked with left-backs in recent weeks.

Key targets
As ‘superstar left-backs’ go, Alphonso Davies is the prime candidate for Madrid. The Canadian only has 18 months left on his current contract with Bayern Munich and there is known interest in him from the Bernabeu.

Premier League sides also want Davies but Madrid are the frontrunners and it’s believed the 23-year-old ultimately desires a move to Spain. Incidentally, Madrid have also been linked with right-backs recently, such as Reece James and Arnau Martinez.

Raphael Varane
There is a lack of depth at centre-back at Madrid when you consider it’s a team expected to win every tournament it enters.

The injury to Eder Militao meant David Alaba has partnered Antonio Rudiger frequently so far in 2023/24. However, Alaba has now suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, leaving Los Blancos even shorter at the back.

Club captain Nacho Fernandez can expect to play plenty of games while midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has also been used out of position, but they need another body who can step in and do what is needed while other players get back to full fitness.

Key target
Madrid are rumoured to be chasing a reunion with Man Utd’s Raphael Varane. The French defender spent the bulk of his career with the Spanish side but after rumours of a fallout with Erik ten Hag, he could soon be on the move.

Beyond that, there are limited clues to who Madrid will target for this role. It might be worth their while to nab Daley Blind from Girona to weaken what seems to be their biggest opposition for the La Liga title this season.

Transfers

Al Nassr in talks to sign Victor Boniface

Al Nassr have initiated negotiations to sign Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano disclosed the Saudi Pro League club’s interest via his X account on Monday, revealing that Al Nassr see Boniface as a replacement for Anderson Talisca, who is set to join Fenerbahçe.

“Understand Al Nassr have started official talks for Victor Boniface as new striker!” Romano wrote. “Negotiations on with Bayer Leverkusen for the Nigerian striker to replace Talisca.

“The other candidate is Jhon Durán… but Aston Villa still insist on keeping him at the club.”

Boniface recently signed a contract extension with Leverkusen, tying him to the Bundesliga side until 2026. The new deal makes the 24-year-old Super Eagles forward one of the club’s highest earners.

However, despite the contract renewal, Boniface is not deemed unsellable by Leverkusen. The club is reportedly demanding a fee of at least €50m from potential buyers.

Transfers

Celtic complete Jota return as Kyogo joins Rennes

Celtic have completed the return of Jota from Rennes, with fellow forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving to the French club.

Japan striker Kyogo, who joined Celtic in summer 2021 at the same time as Jota, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Ligue 1 club.

Jota left Celtic in July 2023 – for a reported fee of £25m – but failed to become a regular starter at both Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League and then in the French top flight.

Now he has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Scottish champions.

“The last year-and-a-half has had its ups and downs, but that’s life and that’s how football is,” he told Celtic’s website. “Now I just can’t wait to work hard, to get along with the lads again and just to flow.”

Transfers

Rejected Neymar Set For Brazilian League After Disappointing Years in Saudi League

Brazil superstar Neymar is closing in on a return to his former club Santos, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Neymar remains on the roster of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, but the team’s manager Jorge Jesus said earlier in January that the Brazilian attacker can “no longer play at the level we are used to,” and wasn’t registered to play in the Saudi Pro League, leaving Neymar eligible to play only in the Asian Champions League.

As a result, Neymar has been looking for his next playing opportunity, and appears to have found it with the club with which he began his professional career.

Sources tell ESPN that Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal likely will be terminated, but the final details are still being negotiated. The two sides are expected to meet early this week with the hope of reaching an agreement. If that occurs, Neymar is set to sign a six-month contract, which will have an option to be extended an additional year, with Santos.

If the deal with Santos is completed, Neymar is set to travel to Brazil this week, and could play for Santos as soon as Feb. 5.

By terminating his Al Hilal contract, which ran through this summer, Neymar would walk away from about $65 million.

Sources told ESPN he could make up at least some of the shortfall by having himself and his father, Neymar Santos Sr., become part of an investment fund that includes shares in Santos.

However, ESPN Brazil is reporting that Neymar is still determined to recoup the money from Al Hilal and that any deal involving shares in Santos would be extremely difficult to execute in the short term.

Brazil star Neymar is hoping to have his contract with Saudi side Al Hilal terminated this week. Francois Nel/Getty Images
So, though the framework for a return to Santos is in place in principle, there are still sticking points.

If his return to Santos is completed, it will conclude a transfer saga that included the possibility of Neymar heading to MLS side Chicago Fire FC. However, Neymar’s preference was to return to Brazil to regain his form and possibly reclaim his place with the national team.

Neymar, 32, endured a difficult spell with Al Hilal after joining the Saudi Arabian club from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a fee of $97.6 million.

The former Barcelona star suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty shortly after joining Al Hilal. He returned to the field last October, but a hamstring injury kept him from making more of a contribution. He made just seven league and cup appearances with just one goal scored in an AFC Champions League group stage match against Nassaji Mazandaran on Oct. 3, 2023.

Despite his struggles in Saudi Arabia, Neymar remains one of the biggest names in the sport thanks to his exploits alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez while with Barcelona from 2013 to 2017. In that time, he was part of sides that won a UEFA Champions League crown, two LaLiga titles, and three Copa del Reys.

He later moved to PSG in 2017 and won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de Frances and two Coupe de la Ligues.

Neymar began his professional career with Santos in 2009, leading them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011, when he scored in the second leg of the final, a 2-1 win over Peñarol.

At the international level, Neymar has appeared 128 times for Brazil, scoring a Selecao record 79 goals. He was part of the Brazil side that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, which Brazil hosted.