Real Madrid eyeing a major midfield sale

The news first reported by AS - that Dani Ceballos has reached an agreement with Real Madrid to terminate his contract - is just the beginning. Madrid are planning multiple departures, given the sheer volume of players they’ve been bringing in. Notably, the club is open to a major sale in midfield.

That kind of high-profile exit would help finance one of the key moves José Mourinho wants to complete the squad after adding another center back: the signing of a top-class central midfielder, a true box-to-box presence who can also dictate play. Two names are on the shortlist: West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández. Above all, though, there’s a growing sense internally that this midfield addition won’t happen unless a significant player is moved on first.

That departure is essential if Madrid are to pull off another major signing. It’s worth noting that after spending nearly €200 million last summer on Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras, Franco Mastantuono and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the club has already invested another €50 million on Marc Cucurella and €20 million on Denzel Dumfries in this window, in addition to the signing bonuses for free agents Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konaté.

Which major midfielder could Real Madrid sell?

Within the current squad, two players stand out as having both strong reputations and significant market value: Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Of the two, Camavinga’s situation appears more uncertain. His trajectory in Madrid has clearly dipped over time. This past season, he featured in just 43% of matches - far too low for a player who started the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

The Frenchman has attracted interest from the Premier League, along with informal approaches from Paris Saint-Germain. Madrid paid €40 million to sign him from Rennes in 2021, meaning his transfer fee has already been fully amortized on the club’s books. Even so, Camavinga has given no indication that he is looking to leave.

Tchouaméni, meanwhile, is another player with significant demand. He was one of Madrid’s most consistent performers during this second trophyless season. Signed from Monaco for €80 million in the summer of 2022, his transfer fee has likewise been fully amortized. It remains to be seen how Mourinho plans to shape his team tactically, what his preferred formation will be, and how Tchouaméni fits into that system.

Valverde less likely to leave

There is also the unresolved issue of Tchouaméni’s clash with Federico Valverde and the potential impact on the locker room, as well as whether the two can coexist moving forward. For now, both players consider the matter closed. Valverde’s departure, however, seems far less likely. The club views him as a cornerstone of the squad and its current first captain. Still, the Uruguayan has endured a difficult spell since Carlo Ancelotti’s departure - a detail that hasn’t gone unnoticed by clubs monitoring his situation. According to Transfermarkt, his market value stands at €90 million.

The transfer window has only just begun, and most of Europe’s top sides are still finalizing their squads. Madrid must create space for incoming players - Silva, Konaté, Dumfries and Cucurella - by sanctioning several exits. At the same time, they need to fund the elite, high-motor box-to-box midfielder Mourinho is targeting. The club is making a concerted effort to reshape the roster, seeking players with a markedly different profile from those recruited in recent years - footballers capable of delivering immediately while also helping to break some of the negative patterns that had started to take hold.

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