Real Madrid have been forced to recalibrate their summer transfer strategy after Leny Yoro decided not to wait for Los Blancos, and sign for Manchester United. The message coming out of Valdebebas has been that they will not make any rash moves for a central defender, but they will look at alternatives to complete their centre-back room.
According to The Athletic, Al-Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte was discussed by the club last week as an option, but a move is not seen as a simple matter. Their sources are that he wanted to return to Europe in the previous transfer window, but the issue of his wages got in the way of a transfer. Currently he is earning around €20m per annum, and while a deal between Real Madrid and Al-Nassr would be no issue, the overall financial package might be.
Real Madrid have a salary structure in place that means Laporte would likely have to half his wages in order to fit into it at the Santiago Bernabeu. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti has let Real Madrid know that he would like another central defender in the squad. Jesus Vallejo is not part of his plans, while David Alaba is likely to be out until at least October, leaving just Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger.
