According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Real Madrid has selected Adam Wharton and Kees Smit as two midfielders who are highly regarded internally.
According to the journalist, Smit is now considered the more appealing option as the club continues to look for inventiveness in the center of the pitch.
Madrid’s midfield has been in flux with the gradual departure of the renowned Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
While the club has gained energy and agility, there is still a sense that the team lacks a natural organizer capable of dominating the tempo and routinely breaking down defences.
That fear is not new; former manager Xabi Alonso had requested a central midfielder during the previous summer transfer window.
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The club now believes that a substantial investment in midfield may be imminent. Several well-known players, notably Vitinha and Enzo Fernandez, are appreciated by the Madrid management.
Two different alternatives
That reality has prompted the club to look into alternative profiles, such as young, technically skilled midfielders who may develop inside the squad.
In that group, Wharton of Crystal Palace and Smit of AZ Alkmaar have got glowing scouting reports.
AZ is reportedly asking for roughly €60 million for Smit and has appointed super agent Jorge Mendes to negotiate on their behalf.
Last summer, Real Madrid held internal discussions about Smit and Wharton, but no clear agreement was reached. As a result, the club decided not to sign any midfielders.
The situation has changed since then, and Smit now appears to be the better option of the two.
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