Mourinho wants Real Madrid to add a centre-back and a creative Modric type midfielder as the club works on exits and final transfer moves.
Mourinho wants one more centre-back and a new Modric-type midfielder at Real Madrid
José Mourinho is still working on the final shape of the Real Madrid squad for the 2026-27 season, and although the club have already moved strongly in the market, the Portuguese coach does not consider the team complete. The new Los Blancos project is already taking form with the arrivals of Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Konaté and Dumfries, but Mourinho wants two more pieces before he feels the squad is truly balanced for the demands of the season ahead.
The message coming from the technical staff is clear. Real Madrid need another centre-back and a midfielder capable of giving continuity to the play, organising possession and connecting the different zones of the pitch. It is not just about signing another big name. Mourinho is looking for very specific profiles, players who can immediately make sense within his idea of the team and also give Madrid enough depth to compete across La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and every other competition on the calendar.
The club, however, cannot move freely without first solving the issue of departures. Madrid have already invested heavily and the squad is full in several areas. For that reason, the next stage of the market is expected to depend largely on exits. Only once certain players leave will there be enough sporting and financial space to accelerate the last two operations requested by Mourinho.
The most delicate position is midfield. Real Madrid are not simply looking for a defensive midfielder or a physical ball-winner. Mourinho wants a player capable of knitting the game together in the middle of the pitch, someone with the intelligence to receive under pressure, choose the right rhythm and help the team breathe when matches become chaotic. Inside the club, the profile has been described as a Modric-type midfielder, not because anyone expects to find another Luka Modric, but because the team needs a player with that kind of influence between lines.
That profile is difficult to find and even harder to sign. Modern football has made creative central midfielders extremely expensive, especially those who combine technical quality with tactical understanding and the ability to perform in high-pressure matches. Madrid know that the market for this type of footballer is limited, which is why the club are analysing different options rather than rushing into a single target.
Enzo Fernández remains one of the names that has been linked with Real Madrid for some time. The Argentine is admired by Mourinho and fits several of the characteristics the coach wants in midfield. He can play forward passes, control possession, compete physically and bring experience from major matches. From a purely sporting point of view, he would be a strong candidate to give Madrid more personality in central areas.
The problem is the financial side of the operation. Any deal for Enzo would be extremely expensive and could go beyond 100 million euros. That figure makes the move difficult to justify at this stage, especially when Real Madrid are also considering another centre-back and have already completed significant business in the window. Unless the conditions change, the Argentine looks more like an admired option than a realistic priority.
Mateus Fernandes is another midfielder who has been followed closely. The Portuguese player is seen as a technically interesting option, with the kind of profile that could grow inside a club like Real Madrid. His ability to connect the play and his comfort on the ball make him attractive for a team searching for more control in midfield. Mourinho knows Portuguese football well and values players who understand space, timing and tactical responsibility.
Even so, Mateus Fernandes would not be an easy signing either. Despite West Ham being relegated to the English Championship, the price would remain high. Several Premier League clubs are interested, with Manchester United and Tottenham mentioned among the most attentive. That competition complicates the situation and could push the operation towards 80 million euros. For Madrid, that is a major amount for a player who would still arrive as a development project rather than a guaranteed starter from day one.
In recent days, Ayyoub Bouaddi has entered the list of possible targets. His performances at the World Cup have increased attention around him, and Real Madrid have always been a club that watches major international tournaments very carefully. When a young player shows personality on that stage, Madrid usually take note. Bouaddi is not currently seen as the first option, but his name is gaining strength inside the market discussion.
The Moroccan international, who plays for Lille, would represent a bet on the future. At around 60 million euros, he would be somewhat cheaper than Enzo Fernández or Mateus Fernandes, although that does not mean the deal would be simple. His World Cup displays have attracted interest from several major European clubs, and Lille would be aware that the tournament has increased his value. Madrid would have to move with conviction if they decide that Bouaddi is the right long-term investment.
Bouaddi offers a different kind of appeal. He would not arrive with the same status as Enzo, nor with the same level of Premier League attention as Mateus Fernandes, but he could be the kind of player Real Madrid like to identify before his price rises even further. The club have built part of their recent recruitment strategy around signing elite talents before they become completely unreachable. In that sense, Bouaddi fits the logic of a Madrid market opportunity.
For Mourinho, however, the question is not only about future potential. He needs players who can help now. The 2026-27 season will bring immediate pressure, and Real Madrid cannot afford a transition year. The coach wants a squad capable of winning from the first month. That is why the final decision in midfield will be important. Madrid must choose between a more established player, a rising talent with a high ceiling, or waiting for the market to create a better opportunity.
The name that now seems completely ruled out is Morten Hjulmand. The Sporting CP midfielder had been mentioned previously, but his profile is considered less suitable for the specific role Mourinho wants. Hjulmand is a more physical and defensive midfielder, valuable in many contexts but not exactly the type of player Madrid are currently prioritising. The coach wants more creativity, more passing rhythm and more ability to organise the game in possession.
That does not mean Madrid do not value physical midfielders. It simply means this specific space in the squad has a different purpose. Mourinho already has players who can bring intensity, pressing and defensive stability. What he wants now is someone who can give the team clarity with the ball. A midfielder who can slow the game down when needed, accelerate it when space appears and help Madrid dominate matches that become tactically blocked.
The defensive situation is also moving, but there the key is Raúl Asencio. Real Madrid plan to sell the young centre-back, in the same group of possible exits that also includes Ceballos and Fran García. If Asencio leaves, a place opens in the defensive line, and Mourinho has already suggested two names for that position: Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck.
Bastoni is currently the option with more momentum. The Inter Milan defender is valued at around 70 million euros and has the kind of profile that appeals to Mourinho. He is experienced at a high level, comfortable defending in demanding systems and capable of playing out from the back. His left-footed profile would also give Madrid tactical variety in the first phase of construction.
The Italian would not be a cheap signing, but he is seen as a more immediate guarantee. Madrid know what they would be getting: a centre-back with Champions League experience, strong tactical education and the personality to adapt to a club where defensive mistakes are analysed under maximum pressure. For Mourinho, who has always placed enormous importance on defensive reliability, Bastoni would be a serious statement.
Schlotterbeck is also highly rated, but his situation has become more complicated after the injury he suffered at the World Cup. The German centre-back sustained an ankle ligament tear that is expected to keep him out for two months. That does not necessarily end Madrid interest, but it changes the timing and the risk of the operation. Signing an injured player is always more delicate, especially when the club want reinforcements who can join the squad rhythm quickly.
There is also the contract situation. Schlotterbeck recently renewed with Borussia Dortmund, but his agreement reportedly includes a release clause for certain clubs, including Real Madrid, worth around 50 million euros. That makes him financially attractive compared with Bastoni, but the injury has shifted the balance. Madrid must decide whether the lower fee compensates for the uncertainty around his physical condition and adaptation time.
Ruben Dias was also liked by the club, but at this stage he is no longer on the radar. The Manchester City defender would have brought leadership, experience and defensive authority, but the operation now appears too far removed from Madrid current priorities. The focus is on more realistic targets and on players whose situations can be advanced once the club completes the expected departures.
The centre-back search also shows Mourinho influence on the squad construction. The Portuguese coach wants security, hierarchy and depth in defence. With Konaté already guaranteed, Madrid have strengthened the back line, but Mourinho still wants one more central defender to avoid depending too much on a small group across a long season. Injuries, suspensions and tactical rotations will all matter, especially if Madrid are competing deep into every competition.
There is also a stylistic reason behind the request. Mourinho wants a team that can defend with authority but also build attacks with patience when needed. That requires centre-backs who are not only strong in duels, but also reliable with the ball. Bastoni and Schlotterbeck both fit that idea in different ways. The Italian offers composure and tactical maturity, while the German brings aggression, range and a more direct defensive profile.
For now, though, everything depends on the exit market. Madrid are trying to create space before committing to the final signings. Ceballos, Fran García and Asencio are among the names that could define the next steps. Their departures would not only reduce the size of the squad, but also help generate the financial flexibility needed to attack the final targets.
Mourinho is known for wanting his squad defined as early as possible. He prefers clarity before the competitive rhythm becomes intense. The coach wants to work with a stable group, establish roles quickly and avoid spending the first months of the season dealing with market noise. That is why these final weeks could be decisive for the new project.
The arrival of Bernardo Silva already gives Madrid more intelligence and technical quality. Cucurella adds depth and intensity on the left side. Dumfries brings power and width on the right. Konaté strengthens the central defensive structure. But Mourinho clearly believes the balance is still not perfect. The team needs another defender and a midfielder who can act as a true connector.
That midfield role may be the most important piece of the remaining puzzle. Real Madrid have talent, pace and power, but the post-Modric era requires a player who can manage matches with the ball. Finding that player is one of the most difficult tasks in the current market. Madrid can sign stars, but signing rhythm, pausa and tactical intelligence is far more complicated.
Enzo Fernández, Mateus Fernandes and Ayyoub Bouaddi represent three different routes. Enzo is the established elite option, but financially almost impossible at the moment. Mateus Fernandes is a high-level young talent with Premier League competition and a significant price tag. Bouaddi is the future-facing alternative, cheaper but increasingly followed by major clubs after his World Cup performances. None of the options is simple, which explains why Madrid are still studying the market.
In defence, the decision appears to be between reliability and opportunity. Bastoni would cost more but offers immediate certainty. Schlotterbeck could be cheaper through his clause, but his injury creates doubts. Ruben Dias is admired but no longer active in the club plans. Asencio exit will likely determine whether Madrid accelerate or wait.
The overall picture is clear. Mourinho has received important reinforcements, but he wants the squad to be built with precision rather than volume. He is not asking for random additions. He wants two pieces that solve clear tactical needs. A centre-back to give the defence more depth and security. A Modric-type midfielder to help the team play with more control, imagination and continuity.
Real Madrid now face the most delicate phase of the transfer window. The headline signings have already been made, but the final touches often decide whether a squad feels complete or slightly unbalanced. Mourinho knows that better than most. His demand is not for luxury. It is for structure. And until Madrid find those two final players, the new project will remain unfinished.
