It is only a matter of time before Xabi Alonso is confirmed as Real Madrid's next coach. The Spaniard had previously announced he would leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.
Alonso will make major changes to Los Blancos' squad as he tries to help them revive after a dismal season. Alonso is currently one of the most highly rated young coaches and will inherit an all-star squad. Typical examples include Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. However, the personnel of the "White Vultures" are still facing many problems at the moment.
Defense
Thibaut Courtois is an undeniable No. 1 goalkeeper and that will not change under Alonso. However, he needs to start thinking about how his defense will look.
Real Madrid have some aging centre-backs, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba both 32 years old, but they are still of good quality to shine next season.
Eder Militao is also hoping to get a starting spot under Alonso. However, the new Los Blancos captain will want at least a new centre-back to add to the necessary competition.
Jonathan Tah is Alonso's favorite player at Bayer Leverkusen and he wants to bring the centre-back to the Bernabeu. However, the 29-year-old is sought after by many teams, including Manchester United and Barcelona.
The German player could transfer freely and it would be a big boost. But with Bayern Munich also watching, a deal won't be as simple as it looks.
Midfield
Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to operate as a possible full-back. The England player's recruitment has not been confirmed but it is still a matter of procedures. Real Madrid even want Alexander-Arnold to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
In the opposite row, Alonso is said to want to have another left-back, especially after Ferland Mendy was sidelined with a serious muscle injury. The Frenchman is unlikely to return next month.
Alonso could continue to target Leverkusen to sign Alex Grimaldo, who has played brilliantly in the last 2 seasons. The Spaniard has provided 20 assists in the last two seasons, in addition to 10 goals.
In midfield, Federico Valverde is still a mainstay but Luka Modric is about to expire his contract. Therefore, Alonso will want a younger midfielder that he can trust for many years to come.
Martin Zubimendi has been closely linked with Arsenal, but is also on Alonso's wish list. The midfielder could rather stay in Spain than join the Premier League.
attack
How to adapt Vinicius and Mbappe will be a complex problem for any coach. Alonso could be forced to use both as a striker, with Bellingham playing right behind as a No. 10. Of course, Alonso can also let Mbappe and Vinicius play on the wing, and will also aim for a new striker.
This will be a difficult situation when Mbappe wants to become the center of attention in attack. However, Alonso may soon realize why Ancelotti has had many problems in helping Real's squad unite as a whole this season. And he will see that the balance is not good when playing for Mbappe as a striker.
