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Enzo Fernández is eager to leave Chelsea. Real Madrid are in the market for a top-class midfield creator. Fernández has expressed a desire to settle in Madrid. On paper, it looks like a transfer made in the stars. And yet ...
Despite Fernández's urgency to depart the English capital, his agent Javier Pastore has confirmed that no discussions with interested clubs have occurred, while Madrid have been uncharacteristically reserved. This likely has something to do with Chelsea placing a £120 million ($160 million) price tag on the player—a figure that would give most clubs serious pause.
The Argentine international is reportedly José Mourinho's primary target for his midfield overhaul at Madrid, but the 15-time European champions may ultimately seek better value elsewhere in the market, with Florentino Pérez needing to generate funds through player sales before splashing out this summer.
As Real Madrid continue to keep their cards close to their chest on Fernández despite persistent speculation, here are six alternative midfielders the club could look to bring in this summer.
1. Rodri
The long-standing Real Madrid target. Pérez's presidential rival Enrique Riquelme had pledged to bring in Rodri if elected—an ambition that appeared to fade following his electoral defeat.
However, Rodri has indicated he will reassess his future after the World Cup, and there are whispers that he could be ready to depart Manchester City following the close of the Pep Guardiola era.
At 30, his peak years may be in the rearview mirror, but Rodri still brings elite qualities as both a technician and a leader—and was born in Madrid.
2. Ayyoub Bouaddi
One of the standout revelations of the 2026 World Cup, 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi has been drawing widespread acclaim for his composed performances for Morocco against far more seasoned opposition.
His Lille teammate Olivier Giroud invoked the names of N'Golo Kanté, Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets when singing the youngster's praises, adding that the emerging talent only needs to sharpen his finishing to "play in Real Madrid next year."
PSG and Arsenal are among the clubs also reported to be interested.
3. Kees Smit
Kees Smit has established himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders on the continent, having turned heads in the Eredivisie across the past two campaigns.
A press-resistant, two-footed midfielder with a sharp eye for incisive passing, Smit is capable of playing as a six, eight or even a ten. Missing out on the Netherlands' World Cup squad has done little to diminish the 20-year-old's reputation.
Rafael van der Vaart recently offered this assessment of his compatriot: "Smit is simply an incredibly good player. We often rush to label a player as really good, but in this case, he is. If he keeps progressing like this, he will undoubtedly end up at Real Madrid or one of the biggest clubs in the world."
Barcelona are also reported to be keeping a close eye on his development.
4. Adam Wharton
Another player whose standing has arguably grown by missing out on the World Cup. With Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson appearing fatigued and England struggling for creative spark, many supporters have found themselves longing for Adam Wharton's incisive forward passes and composed ball retention.
The 22-year-old Europa Conference League champion will almost certainly depart Crystal Palace at some stage. Whether he is quite ready to make the step up to Real Madrid, however, remains an open question.
5. Alexis Mac Allister
If not Fernández, why not his (more affordable) Argentine midfield counterpart?
Alexis Mac Allister fulfills a comparable role to the Chelsea star on the international stage and has been equally indispensable in Lionel Scaloni's dominant Argentina setup, yet would likely command a significantly lower fee.
A Premier League title winner with Liverpool, Mac Allister is well respected in English football, though his club performances dipped considerably last season and the Merseyside club is reportedly willing to entertain offers.
A fresh challenge could be exactly what the Reds' No.10 needs to rediscover his best form.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
6. João Neves
Recent reports have highlighted Pérez's strong admiration for João Neves, and the 21-year-old Portugal international would represent a genuinely world-class addition for Madrid—one capable of filling the (still vacant) void left by Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos.
The difficulty lies in prising the back-to-back Champions League winner away from Paris Saint-Germain.
With his deal running until 2030 and PSG under no financial pressure to sell, it would likely require Neves himself to push for an exit before any move could materialise.