Real Madrid Players 'Expecting' Transfer Target To Join Next Summer

Real Madrid players are already 'expecting' one of the club's main transfer targets to join them next summer, despite his current club being desperate to keep him.

After a relatively quiet transfer market last summer, with David Alaba joining on a free and Eduardo Camavinga the only additions, Los Blancos are expected to make some big moves after this campaign is over.

Their number one target in the summer is thought to be Kylian Mbappe, although they reportedly won't make a move for him until after they've played PSG in the Champions League.

Mbappe isn't the only out of contract player that Carlo Ancelotti's team have been linked with and, according to one report, the current squad believe one man is on his way.

According to the Telegraph, the Real players are 'expecting' Antonio Rudiger to join them at the Bernabeu in the summer, with the Chelsea defender's contract expiring at the end of the current campaign.

Rudiger could leave Chelsea for free in June and the Real players expect he'll be in the Spanish capital. Image: PA Images

The Blues are said to have offered the 28-year-old a new contract, with a boost to his wages, but he is yet to sign a new deal, with his current contract now just six months from ending.

That means that from next Saturday he is able to negotiate with teams outside of England and sign a pre-contract agreement to join them in the summer.

The reports claims that Rudiger wants double the £140,000-a-week currently on offer from Chelsea, with the Blues fearful that bowing to his demands would affect other players' demands.

Real are more likely to be willing to pay the money, especially as they won't need to pay a transfer fee for the former Stuttgart defender.

Real didn't fully replace Varane and Ramos in the summer. Image: PA Images

Real lost both Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the summer, with the legendary centre back partnership splitting up to go to PSG and Manchester United respectively.

The Spanish giants signed David Alaba to play in the position, though he can also take up a number of others, and have also relied on Nacho and Eder Militao.

Rudiger has quickly become one of Europe's best centre backs, having found himself out of the first XI and down the pecking order under Frank Lampard.

Things have been completely different for him under Thomas Tuchel, and he helped the Blues win the Champions League last season.

As well as Mbappe and Rudiger, Ancelotti's team have also been linked with a move for Paul Pogba, whose contract expires in June, and a potential move for Erling Haaland.

Topics: Transfers, Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Premier League, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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