Fulham set to raid Real Madrid for four players as Alvaro Arbeloa appointment looms

Alvaro Arbeloa is looking to raid former club Real Madrid when he takes the reins at Fulham, reports claim.

The Spaniard left Real at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, having stepped up from the club's B team to replace Xabi Alonso in the middle of the season.

Arbeloa endured a trophyless five-month stint with Los Blancos and his departure was confirmed earlier this month, with Jose Mourinho returning to the Santiago Bernabeu dugout for a second spell.

Arbeloa will not be out of work for long though as he is set to sign a three-year deal to become the new Fulham manager, taking over from Marco Silva after he took the Benfica job.

A work permit has delayed the official announcement but MARCA say Arbeloa is already hard at work trying to add to the Cottagers' squad.

The 43-year-old is incredibly familiar with the academy set-up at Real and wants a quartet of talents to join him at Craven Cottage.

One of the most exciting talents to come through 'La Fabrica' in recent times is Thiago Pitarch, who played 16 times for the first-team last term.

Having only made his senior debut weeks before, the 18-year-old was thrown into a Champions League round of 16 clash with Manchester City amid an injury crisis but produced a confident display in midfield.

Pitarch is seen as the real gem of the academy, while Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel also played seven times and Jorge Cestero featured five times.

Although Arbeloa promoted them to the first-team set-up, they are unlikely to be afforded the same opportunities under Mourinho - with Real extremely busy in the transfer market and already signing four new players.

MARCA say Arbeloa "holds the key to signing many academy players who will undoubtedly follow him to his next destination" and that he "will try to bring some of them into his project".

Arbeloa's appointment by Fulham is said to be a means for the club change their philosophy and approach but with the intention of challenging for Europe.

Fulham finished 11th last season, just one point behind Brentford and Brighton - who both secured European football next term.

Fulham have already confirmed transfer ahead of Alvaro Arbeloa appointment

As well as the departure of Silva after his contract expires, there have already been changes amongst the playing squad.

Both Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson did not agree to new deals in west London, with the former returning to Wolves and Leeds being on the verge of signing the latter.

The club have already completed one signing after Jonah Kusi-Asare signed permanently.

The Swedish starlet spent last season on loan at Fulham from Bayern Munich, making 10 appearances in all competitions.

After Fulham exercised their option to sign Kusi-Asare permanently, he has penned a five-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months.

Speaking after his move was confirmed, he told the club's official website: "I'm very happy to be a permanent Fulham player. From my first week here, it was very good – I felt like I was a part of the Fulham family.

"The changing room was very nice, team, staff, so I'm very happy to stay here."