A little over two weeks are left before the summer transfer window of 2024 comes to a close and Real Madrid are still contemplating whether to sign a new defender or not.
The recent injury to Joan Martinez, coupled with the delays in David Alaba’s recovery, have seemingly forced the Merengues to reconsider their stance of not bringing in another defender.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti is understood to be in favour of a new signing while the board is not entirely sold on the idea.
But if the reigning Spanish and European champions do decide to go down that route, the name of Al Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte appears to be at the top of the wishlist.
Indeed, the 30-year-old UEFA Euro 2024 winner with Spain is a player that has the approval of Ancelotti and his staff, although according to AS, two major conditions must be met for Real Madrid to consider his acquisition.
Laporte must come for free
The first and most important condition for Real Madrid to contemplate signing Laporte is that the defender must terminate his contract with Al Nassr and join for a free transfer.
Ancelotti would be delighted with the arrival of the Spanish international, but the top brass at the club will only move for him if he arrives with a letter of freedom.
Al Nassr paid €27 million to sign him from Manchester City last year and letting him go for free now would mean that they would have invested over €50 million (including salary) to have Laporte for just one year, something that would not be considered good business.
So, Laporte and his agent would have their task cut out to convince the Saudi giants to let him depart with a letter of freedom.
A big wage cut
If the first condition is somehow cleared and Al Nassr grant him the permission to leave for free, Laporte must also make financial sacrifices and take a major pay cut to join Real Madrid.
After all, the former Manchester City defender earns a whopping €24 million net annual salary at Al Nassr – a figure that Real Madrid cannot even imagine paying.
Meeting his current salary would mean destroying the pay scale that Los Blancos have and paying Laporte more than what bonafide superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. earn.
As such, Laporte must agree to take a substantial wage reduction if he wants to join.