da esoccer bet： With injury problems mounting, Los Blancos are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements this winter

da dobrowin： Ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, Real Madrid have a clear-cut shopping list. At the time of writing, Los Blancos are without six first-team players due to injury. Three of those — David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois — are highly unlikely to play again this season. A further two might be out for at least another month. Los Blancos can't get through the rest of this campaign with their current squad — and probably won't survive when the short absentees return, either.

As such, a new centre-back is a must, and there are options out there. Madrid could recall at least one loanee, while some higher-end options could be available — especially if Carlo Ancelotti's side are after a long-term solution at the position.

And, of course, there remains the relentless Kylian Mbappe sag. Could this be transfer window when the superstar forward finally joins?

GOAL takes a look at six players Real Madrid should be looking into this winter…

(C)GettyImagesRaphael Varane (Man Utd)

It's difficult to know exactly where Raphael Varane stands at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, with his status within the squad having swung dramatically one way and then another over the past few weeks.

When he was signed in the summer of 2022, the former Madrid man seemed set to be the top-tier starting centre-back that United had been crying out for to lead them into a new era. But it hasn't worked out that way, despite an encouraging first campaign. Varane slipped down the pecking order in the opening months of this season, but did perform well after being restored to the line-up against Bayern Munich and Liverpool in recent weeks.

To be fair, United are a mess of a club where it seems genuinely difficult to play any sort of vaguely coherent football for an extended period. Still, it's strange to see a defender who was once considered world-class have such a swift fall.

Perhaps, then, a return to Madrid is necessary for him to recpature his best. Madrid are in dire need of cover at the back, and there is some concrete reason to believe this might happen. journalist Christian Falk has suggested that Los Blancos are considering a move for their former centre-back, who at 30, still has a lot of to give despite the miles in his legs. Watch this space.

AdvertisementGoncalo Inacio (Sporting CP)

If you want to start a transfer rumour these days, find a young Portuguese player, and name a top European club. The Primeira Division has become the trendy shopping centre for elite clubs in recent years, and Goncalo Inacio is the latest player of promise who looks set for a big move.

And it's easy to see why. An athletic centre-back who has three years of European football under his belt and is already capped for his national team at just 22 years old, Inacio checks all of the boxes for a future star. Madrid moving him would certainly be a statement of intent, though Sporting have shown reluctance to get rid of their star man, and have placed a €60 million (£52m/$65m) price tag on him.

For a Madrid side that will probably need to save a bit of cash to bring in Mbappe at some point, Inacio isn't exactly a cut-price option. He is, though, a potentially elite footballer, who could grow to become one of the best in the world at his position.

GettyPiero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen)

Why can't Piero Hincapie get into the Bayer Leverkusen team? The left-footed centre-back may be a bit loose on the ball at times, but at such a young age, and with so much potential, it's odd that the 21-year-old finds himself on the periphery for the Bundesliga leaders. In fairness, Xabi Alonso has his team firing, and would see little reason to change things up, but that could lead to the Ecuador international looking for pastures new.

Hincapie is very highly-rated defender who can fit Ancelotti's team and is potentially available at below market value given his lack of games this season. At this point, he is steadily becoming an expensive back-up — a chip to cash in on if Leverkusen need to make a move in the market in their push to secure a historic Bundesliga crown.

For a club like Madrid, it's a chance to improve in the short and long-term. Hincapie would get into the team immediately while being able to learn from the litany of experienced heads in the Madrid squad — and could be an impact player for years to come.

Getty ImagesGiorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)

Giorgio Scalvini would be a project for a club like Madrid. Still just 20 and relatively inexperienced at the top level, the Italian centre-back is coming into his own this season for a tough Atalanta side.

The Italy international is still raw, but he has all of the physical traits and athletic abilities of a modern centre-back. He's also surprisingly composed for a player so young, and would have very few issues in slotting into a Madrid side that is at its best when in possession.

The biggest caveat here is that Los Blancos are in the hunt for a player of more experience and refinement. This is a team that is needs an emergency signing, not necessarily a promising prospect. With Scalvini, it will come down to Madrid's scouting department — do they believe that a player of his age can make such an impact, so quickly?