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Real Madrid not planning to be active during January transfer market

Real Madrid not planning to be active during January transfer market
© Reuters
Real Madrid board member Jose Manuel Ortero says that the club are not planning to be active in the winter transfer market.

Real Madrid board member Jose Manuel Ortero has said that the Spanish giants are not planning to be active during the January transfer window.

Los Blancos made five signings over the summer, but only three of those had been planned in advance, with Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Fran Garcia all moving to the club.

Joselu's arrival on loan from Espanyol came as a consequence of Karim Benzema's surprise departure to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga was brought in on loan from Chelsea after it was revealed that Thibaut Courtois would be missing for potentially all of the 2023-24 campaign due to a serious knee injury.

Brahim Diaz was also brought back from a loan spell at AC Milan to compensate for the departures of Mariano Diaz and Marco Asensio in the final third of the field.

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal on September 20, 2023© Reuters

There have been suggestions that Los Blancos could be in the market for more signings in January, but Ortero has said that will not be the case unless there are any further significant injury issues.

"In the winter market, the experience has never been good. There has not been any player in the winter market who would have saved anything. Courtois's loss is well covered. Kepa is a great goalkeeper," Ortero told Blanca Remontada.

"I don't think he'll mind me saying he's not Courtois, but Kepa has covered well. He is showing that he is an increasingly better goalkeeper. Let's see if we can hold out.

"One of the problems that [Carlo] Ancelotti has is that he cannot play all 23 at the same time. What a headache to have a choice. The idea is to hold on unless another injury comes."

Real Madrid's Eder Militao walks off after suffering an injury against Athletic Bilbao on August 12, 2023© Reuters

Real Madrid currently have five players out of action, with Eder Militao also a long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the team's season opener.

Guler is yet to make his debut, meanwhile, having picked up a thigh problem when he was on the verge of featuring after recovering from a minor knee operation.

David Alaba has also recently been absent with a groin issue, while Nacho is serving a league suspension, which led to Aurelien Tchouameni lining up as a centre-back in the 4-0 win over Osasuna last time out.

Real Madrid might be planning for a quiet January, but Ortero has confirmed the club's desire to sign Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe next summer.

Los Blancos could also allegedly bring in a centre-forward, while another central midfielder will be required if both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos leave at the end of the campaign.

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Written by
Matt Law

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2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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