Real Madrid levelling up in the transfer market

Having secured the signings of Huijsen and Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid is now directing its full attention to acquiring a central midfielder to fill the void left by Toni Kroos—a significant shortcoming in the recently concluded season. The urgency of this need has relegated the pursuit of Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras to a lower priority. Among the midfield candidates under consideration, one of the most prominent is 24-year-old Angelo Stiller from Stuttgart.

Stiller aligns well with Real Madrid’s new project: a young yet proven talent who would have participated in the Nations League Final Four if not for an injury sustained during the Cup final. He comes at an affordable price and is favored by Xabi Alonso, who is familiar with him from their time in the Bundesliga.

According to AS, Real Madrid has yet to initiate contact with either the player or Stuttgart, opting to wait. However, Stiller is enthusiastic about the prospect of donning the white jersey next season. For this to materialize, Madrid must negotiate with Stuttgart, which is reportedly seeking no less than $54.43 million for their emerging star.

Stiller’s contract includes a release clause allowing him to depart for $39.19 million, but this clause doesn’t become active until 2026. Stuttgart can nullify this clause by paying the midfielder $2.18 million before the start of 2026. Stiller, a product of Bayern Munich’s youth system, was acquired by Stuttgart last summer for $5.98 million after transferring from Hoffenheim on a free move.

In any case, Real Madrid is exercising caution in signing this pivotal component of their squad. Currently, several factors are under consideration. One is the potential sale of Rodrygo, pending a discussion with Xabi Alonso.

Additionally, the club is monitoring another situation: Rodrigo of Manchester City has a contract until 2027, and the summer of 2026 may present an opportune moment to acquire him at a reasonable price, especially considering his Ballon d’Or status. To await this opportunity, Madrid has two options: refrain from signing a midfielder in the current market or secure a temporary solution that could also serve as a foundation for the future. In this context, Stiller fits the profile.

One factor favoring the German midfielder’s potential move to Madrid is his representation by Volker Struth, the same agent who managed Kroos’s career. Following his retirement, Kroos became a shareholder in the agency. Given Kroos’s significant influence over Florentino Pérez, his recommendation could be sufficient to prompt Madrid to act.

Real Madrid still monitoring Zubimendi

Nevertheless, until Arsenal officially announces the signing of Zubimendi, this option remains on the table. Among available players, he is considered the best fit for the position. Moreover, Xabi Alonso holds considerable sway over him. The San Sebastián native has a release clause of $65.32 million. As previously reported, the London club has effectively secured his acquisition and regards the deal as finalized. However, Real Madrid has not conceded.

Recent statements have shed light on the situation, offering Xabi Alonso hope that his top-priority target may still be attainable. “Zubimendi is the only player we’ve had conversations about. No other player has expressed a desire to leave Real Sociedad or has approached us. We’ve advised Martín to consider his options carefully. Of course, we told him last year that we would listen to him. We would like him to stay, but we are aware that there are several options. However, we don’t believe any deal can be finalized in the short term; we must wait,” stated the Real Sociedad president.