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Florentino Pérez is a man who thrives on obsession. Once it was Luís Figo, then David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé each took their turn as the Real Madrid president's ultimate prize.
Now, Michael Olise appears to be the latest player to occupy a permanent place in Pérez's thoughts.
Pérez has pledged to uphold the storied tradition of bringing "Galácticos" to the club, with campaign banners across Madrid during his re-election bid declaring that his legacy of blockbuster signings was "to be continued".
However, the dream target seems to be beyond reach for now. Bayern Munich have remained firm in dismissing transfer speculation around Olise, while The Athletic is among outlets reporting that the London-born France international is "not seen as feasible"—at least this summer.
In the meantime, Madrid has brought in only defenders (and Bernardo Silva on a free) as part of José Mourinho's summer rebuild. Sensible additions, certainly, but unlikely to satisfy the appetite of fans and president alike for the spectacular.
With Olise seemingly off the table, here are five high-profile transfer targets Pérez and Real Madrid could pursue instead.
1. Rodri
Is there a more compelling or obvious signing Real Madrid could make this summer?
Rodri is riding high once more, having guided Spain to World Cup glory in North America and remaining the finest midfield orchestrator on the planet, even following an ACL injury in 2024.
He was born in Madrid, has spoken openly about the prospect of joining Real Madrid, and has just one year remaining on his Manchester City contract. He would also provide a significant upgrade to Los Blancos's midfield options.
So what's holding things back? Look no further than Pérez himself, who is reportedly unenthusiastic about the move.
2. Enzo Fernández
The man sent off in this summer's World Cup final, Enzo Fernández is keen to move on from Chelsea after three and a half seasons, and he has previously been linked with a move to Madrid.
Chelsea's asking price of £120 million ($160 million) appears ambitious, yet few midfielders of his age can match the all-round quality Fernández brings to the table.
As with Rodri, however, Madrid have publicly stated they hold no interest in the player.
3. Yan Diomandé
19-year-old Yan Diomandé is among the most sought-after young talents in world football following a standout Bundesliga campaign and a series of impressive performances at the World Cup.
While he may not yet be a universally recognised name, he has every attribute needed to develop into a genuine superstar in the near future.
The RB Leipzig forward, valued at over €100 million ($115 million), is said to have identified Paris Saint-Germain as his preferred destination.
Nevertheless, strong interest from Los Blancos and the prospect of linking up with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior in a fearsome attack could prove decisive for the young Côte d'Ivoire international.
4. Désiré Doué
A back-to-back Champions League winner at just 21 years of age, Désiré Doué has already achieved what many players chase throughout their entire careers.
Dazzling in possession, adaptable across multiple positions and brimming with character, the France international would be a thrilling addition to Madrid's attack — though securing his signature would be no straightforward task.
Contracted to Paris Saint-Germain until 2029, the European champions are not known for selling their prized assets. That said, should they pursue Diomandé or another attacker this summer as expected, they may be open to entertaining substantial offers for Doué.
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5. Mohamed Salah
34-year-old Mohamed Salah departed Liverpool earlier this summer as one of the club's all-time greats, though there is no denying that his peak years are now behind him.
The Egyptian managed just seven Premier League goals in 2025–26 and had a falling out with then-manager Arne Slot during a frustrating final season. He is widely expected to follow a familiar path by winding down his career in MLS, Türkiye or Saudi Arabia.
But... what if Real Madrid were to hand one of football's most marketable figures a short-term deal to fill the void while positioning themselves to go all-in for Olise next summer?
The World Cup demonstrated that Salah still has plenty to offer, and he could certainly cause problems for La Liga defences. His high standards would be a welcome addition at Valdebebas — his ego and reluctance to defend, rather less so.