Jurgen Klopp has drawn up a brutal transfer hit list for Real Madrid, demanding six major signings and ready to show the door to five first team stars if he takes the Bernabeu hotseat this summer.
The former Liverpool boss, 58, has emerged as the shock frontrunner for the job after Xabi Alonso’s brutal sacking this week. And Spanish reports now claim Klopp has wasted no time, presenting club chiefs with a stunning overhaul plan that would rip up the current squad.
Klopp, who’s currently Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer, is said to be ‘seriously tempted’ by the Madrid project. Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg states the German is ‘fascinated’ by the role, with intermediaries aware of the Spanish giants’ interest. It’s a dramatic U turn for the manager who hinted Liverpool would be his last club job.
Klopp’s Demands: Two New Centre Backs and a Cherries Star
The German gaffer’s plan is reportedly centred on a defensive rebuild. He ‘demands’ two new centre halves, with Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano a top target. A move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi has been scuppered, however, with the England man set for Manchester City.
At left back, Bournemouth’s Alex Jimenez is identified, while midfield reinforcements are a priority. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller are both on the wishlist. To add firepower, Klopp wants Borussia Dortmund’s rapid winger Karim Adeyemi.
The Chopping Block: Mendy, Alaba and Camavinga Face Exit
Such a major influx means major outgoings. Up to five established names are reportedly on ‘thin ice’. Full backs Ferland Mendy and David Alaba are set to pack their bags. In midfield, the patience has allegedly ‘run out’ for both Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos. Former Man City attacker Brahim Diaz is also on the chopping block.
Why Madrid Want Klopp and the Arteta Reality
Madrid president Florentino Perez is known to want a manager with the stature to command a dressing room of galacticos, a profile Klopp fits perfectly. Sources confirm the club quickly realised Alonso wasn’t the right fit, prompting the swift January change.
While Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is also admired in Madrid, it’s understood he has no plans to quit the Gunners and remains loyal to their project. All focus is on convincing Klopp.
Fabrizio Romano stressed the first step is Klopp publicly wanting to return to coaching. Plettenberg followed up, stating: “He is happy at Red Bull… but there are at least two projects for which he would return if EVERYTHING fits: Real Madrid and the German national team.”
The scale of Klopp’s reported demands shows he’s not coming for a quiet life. If Perez agrees, it would signal the most dramatic summer clear out at the Bernabeu in over a decade, with the German’s heavy metal football poised to replace the club’s recent orchestrated style. One thing’s for sure, the Madrid squad is in for a seismic shock.
