The question of who would replace Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid's head coach has been answered, with former manager Carlo Ancelotti being given the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu. While this issue has been resolved, what remains a mystery is what the summer transfer window holds for Los Blancos.
After finishing the season trophyless for the first time since 2010, the club are said to be keen on bolstering their squad. However, the financial crisis brought upon them by the COVID-19 pandemic has left the club in a tricky and dire situation, limiting their spending capabilities.
As a result, Paco Gonzalez, the director of "Tiempo de Juego", reported to Cadena Cope's "El Partidazo" that Los Blancos are aiming to make just one big signing. Instead, the bulk of the work for this summer window will be to offload players, with the Spanish giants keen on trimming their 33-man first team roster.
"Real Madrid have 33 first-team players right now," Paco Gonzalez said, as per Marca.
"There aren't any offers for any of them, not even [Eden] Hazard.
"Buying a great player and not selling anyone would leave a lot of debt for the club. The plan is to keep [Luka] Jovic out on loan and playing, but not to sell him.
"Players like Brahim [Diaz] and [Take] Kubo won't have problems finding clubs. [Martin] Odegaard could be loaned again, and Roma want Borja Mayoral but they don't have the 15 million euros he would cost.
"The big problem this summer is that only the state-run clubs have money. [Dani] Ceballos has said that he doesn't want another loan. He's talking to Real Betis, but they have no money."
There is real interest in Odegaard from Arsenal, the club where he spent a loan spell at from January until the end of the campaign. As for Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid captain and icon is set to depart but Florentino Perez won't spend big to replace the center-back. Mbappe and Haaland have been linked with the club, but Gonzalez stressed that signing both is impossible while landing one would also require a miracle.
"If Real Madrid sign it'll be because they'll have sold a lot before August," Paco added.
"It would just be one big signing. No centre-back will sign to cover for Sergio Ramos, nor will another player arrive in midfield.
"Mbappe and [Erling] Haaland cannot join at the same time. Real Madrid haven't contacted PSG to ask for a price or a player exchange, something that is ruled out. Real Madrid would pay 200m euros if PSG wanted that."
