Real Madrid is set to undergo a squad revamp in 2025 in the club stated they want to bolster their defence.
After strengthening their attack for the next season 2024/25 with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe who will Play alongside Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham the team now looks to strengthen the backline.
Carlo Ancelotti’s backline is tested, especially after the season-ending knee surgery of Dani Carvajal. Trent Alexander-Arnold an England international has popped up as a potential target since he is available on a free transfer next summer.
Although Ferland Mendy’s new contract keeps the left-back spot nailed down, and Fran Garcia is the backup, Ancelotti has a shortage of options in the center of the defense. Without Nacho Fernandez, there is a problem now; with highly-rated Rafa Marin going to Napoli, this is a worry. These problems have been exacerbated by continuous injuries to David Alaba, which has left the only Eagles’ senior central defenders being Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger.
When needed, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has filled a slot, although both Rudiger and Alaba’s contracts will expire in 2026; as a result, more potentially feasible is acquiring RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba.
Castello Lukeba Biography Castello plays his football for the French national team, Hailing from France and Having previously played for Lyon since 2021, Castello Lukeba signed for the RB Leipzig team in August 2023. The transfer was costing nearly £30m ($39m) and has also become an essential figure in the team’s defense line of the Bundesliga side with his contract expiry in 2029. His transfer value has increased to 40 million pounds (52 million dollars).
While RB Leipzig is not actively seeking to sell Lukeba, a £75 million ($97 million) release clause in his contract could facilitate a potential exit. Reports suggest that Real Madrid is keen to secure Lukeba, especially as they face competition from Premier League clubs and Bayern Munich, with RB Leipzig known for being a selling club.
Lukeba's profile is similar to that of Rudiger, and his final season in France saw him leading Europe’s top five leagues in interceptions, with 75, highlighting his strong game-reading ability—an attribute that mirrors Rudiger's aggressive defensive style.
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