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Real Madrid may be forced to look elsewhere for a new midfielder after the agent of Manchester City's Rodri reportedly confirmed that the World Cup champion has chosen to sign with Barcelona instead.
With negotiations over Rodri having ground to a halt, Real Madrid's pursuit of the experienced midfielder appears to have been snatched away by Barcelona, and Cadena SER claim to have received that confirmation directly from Rodri's representative.
Pablo Barquero, Rodri's agent, is said to have confirmed that discussions with Madrid began shortly after the World Cup, but the two sides never managed to agree on a transfer fee. While Rodri is reported to have appreciated the professionalism shown by Madrid throughout the process, he has ultimately chosen Barcelona as his next destination. According to the report, Barquero has communicated that decision to both clubs.
This leaves Real Madrid once again on the hunt for someone to fill the void that has gone unfilled since the exits of deep-lying playmakers Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos.
Should Madrid return to the transfer market, here are six potential targets they could pursue.
Enzo Fernández
There are a couple of obvious obstacles here. Not only have Madrid publicly stated they have no intention of signing Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, but questions surrounding his suitability as a deep-lying playmaker are entirely legitimate.
Fernández has largely excelled as a box-to-box midfielder in recent seasons, but his passing range is undeniable, and he may simply require some tactical refinement to unlock his full potential in a deeper position.
He is clearly eager to make the switch, meaning personal terms would not pose a problem, but matching Chelsea's reported asking price of around $161.5 million (£120 million) is likely to be a significant hurdle.
Martín Zubimendi
Will Madrid come to regret not fulfilling Xabi Alonso's request to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi last summer?
Zubimendi ultimately moved to Arsenal, immediately sending his market value soaring, but Madrid may now see an opportunity to correct that mistake as Arsenal prepare to bring in Bruno Guimarães to an already congested midfield.
Spain's World Cup winner now looks set to share playing time with Guimarães and Declan Rice, and that's before factoring in how club captain Martin Ødegaard or the in-form Myles Lewis-Skelly fit into the picture. If Arsenal were open to any conversation about Zubimendi's future, Madrid should be the first to call.
Adam Wharton
If José Mourinho is seeking greater experience in his midfield, he may need some persuading to take a punt on 22-year-old Adam Wharton, who has undeniably impressed during his two seasons in the Premier League.
Wharton has been outstanding in a deep midfield role for Crystal Palace, standing out for his composure in possession and his ability to influence play from various areas of the pitch. Comparisons to Modrić or Kroos are clearly premature, but they are not entirely far-fetched either, given a playing style that ticks a number of important boxes.
Palace are well aware of Wharton's value, and his price tag has been driven up by both his age and his English nationality, but Madrid could make their move this summer before that figure climbs even further.
Manuel Locatelli
Is Manuel Locatelli, the 28-year-old skipper of a faltering Juventus side, as spectacular as World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri? Certainly not, but spectacle is not what Madrid are in need of right now.
Locatelli is the type of midfielder who happily retreats into defensive positions and allows his teammates to grab the spotlight. His role is to keep the ball circulating, functioning almost like a quarterback as those around him make their runs and hope to catch his ever-alert, scanning gaze.
It is the kind of role we saw Modrić and Kroos execute to near perfection season after season at the Bernabéu. Locatelli may not carry the same star quality, but if he can orchestrate play and elevate those around him, supporters would warm to him quickly.
Angelo Stiller
Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller is a name that has been hovering on the periphery of Madrid's radar for some time now. Perhaps the moment has come to elevate him to the top of the list.
At 25 years of age, Stiller strikes the ideal balance between experience and longevity, and while he has never performed on a stage as grand as the Bernabéu, a handful of appearances as a youngster at Bayern Munich suggest he understands the pressure that comes with wearing a prestigious badge.
Pursuing him could well be the most straightforward path available to Madrid. Stuttgart may compete in the Champions League, but they lack the financial muscle to turn down an approach from a club of Madrid's stature.
Aleix García
Aleix García was, like the rest of Madrid's Spanish contingent, frustrated to be overlooked by Luis de la Fuente for the World Cup squad. A move to the Bernabéu would almost certainly benefit all parties involved.
New arrival Marc Cucurella helped ease the embarrassment after De la Fuente's initial squad contained no players from Los Blancos whatsoever. Bringing in Bayer Leverkusen's García — a reinvented regista who has openly admitted he would welcome interest from one of La Liga's elite clubs — could offer a straightforward path back to relevance.
García is fully aware that having just turned 29 may reduce his attractiveness to clubs of Madrid's ambition, but Mourinho is taking a different approach at the Bernabéu this summer, and a cost-effective deal for a short-term solution may no longer be frowned upon by president Florentino Pérez.