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Topics: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Transfers, Florentino Perez, Football, La Liga, Premier League, Champions League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Transfers, Florentino Perez, Football, La Liga, Premier League, Champions League
Real Madrid are 'obsessed' with signing a Premier League star for a nine-figure fee this summer, it has been reported.
Real splashed out a combined £93 million on their two biggest summer signings, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras.
They spent approximately £10 million to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in June to enable him to play in the Club World Cup, having already agreed to sign him once his Liverpool contract expired.
And around £40 million was spent to sign young midfielder Franco Mastantuono from River Plate in August.
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As a result of that spending, Real had a quiet January transfer window, which was far more notable for the sacking of Xabi Alonso and the promotion of Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
The club allowed legendary midfielder Luka Modric to leave the club at the end of his contract last summer, with the 40-year-old going on to sign for Italian giants AC Milan.
According to AS, Real had already devised a long-term replacement plan ahead of Modric's departure, which involved Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Arda Guler.
The report also noted that the club planned to 'invest heavily' in a midfielder.
And according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Los Blancos have identified Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez as a summer target - and are willing to splash out around £120 million to sign him.
Fernandez joined Chelsea in January 2023, signing an unprecedented nine-and-a-half year contract with the London club.
The Blues paid £106.8 million to sign the Argentinian from Benfica, where he had spent just six months.
Now 25, Fernandez had a slow start to life in English football, but has since become one of Chelsea's most dependable players and has formed a strong midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo.
Fichajes claim that Real's 'obsession is growing' when it comes to potentially making a move for Fernandez in the summer, adding that he 'represents the level Real Madrid aspires to if they want to dominate La Liga and Europe again'.
The report also claims that the 2022 World Cup winner 'wants to wear white' and is reportedly 'tired' of Chelsea's lack of success under their current ownership.
Chelsea have, however, reached the round of 16 stage in the Champions League under new manager Liam Rosenior, and sit fifth in the Premier League - a position which will, at present, secure the additional Champions League qualification spot awarded via UEFA's club and nation co-efficient rankings.