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How Real Madrid could line up with Neymar, Paul Pogba

How Real Madrid could line up with Neymar, Pogba
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Sports Mole looks at how Real Madrid could line up with both Neymar and Paul Pogba amid speculation linking Los Blancos with the pair of blockbusters signings.

Real Madrid have been one of the busiest teams in this summer's transfer window as they look to revamp their squad following a disappointing 2018-19 campaign which saw them go through three managers and finish third in La Liga.

The likes of Eden Hazard, Eder Militao, Luka Jovic, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo have all come through the door for big money, but reports suggest that there could be yet more incomings before the September 2 deadline.

Indeed, Madrid have been tipped to make two of the biggest transfers of all time as they continue to compete with Barcelona for wantaway Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar and also hold a lingering interest in Manchester United's Paul Pogba.

Pogba may be particularly difficult to prise away from Old Trafford considering the English transfer window has now ended, although Los Blancos could make one final approach for Zinedine Zidane's top target.

Any deal for Neymar would eclipse even that transfer with PSG holding out for a world-record fee of £200m, and Madrid are reportedly planning to wait until the closing stages of the window before making their move.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Zidane's side could line up should they complete both blockbuster signings.



Possible RMA XI w/NEYPOG

Both players would be expected to go straight into the starting lineup at the Bernabeu, which creates an interesting dynamic in central midfield with one of Casemiro, Toni Kroos or Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric likely to make way.

It may be that Kroos and Modric rotate throughout the season, although 33-year-old Modric's advancing years mean that the German playmaker could be favoured for the most part.

Up front, the arrival of Neymar would complete a fearsome front three which also includes another big-money arrival in Hazard and Karim Benzema, the latter of whom scored 30 goals last season and is already up and running for the new campaign.

While that is likely to be their first-choice front three, there is no shortage of competition for places behind them either, with the likes of Isco, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Lucas Vazquez, Mariano Diaz and Jovic all expecting first-team action as well this season.

Zidane also looks set to have Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez at his disposal after Madrid failed to offload both players this summer, and the Frenchman's U-turn over Bale in particular proved valuable when the winger set up their first goal of the campaign against Celta Vigo.

The changes have not been so dramatic at the back and Madrid look likely to start the new campaign with the same defensive five that were preferred last term, at least once Dani Carvajal returns to fitness.

The additions of left-back Mendy and the versatile Militao, who can play centrally or on the right, do provide more options for Zidane, though, and both players will be expecting regular chances throughout the season.

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Barney Corkhill
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Paul Pogba pictured during Manchester United's Premier League clash with Chelsea on August 11, 2019
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