Image Credits: Imago Images
With the spine of their team evolving, Madrid have been scouring the market for a long-term central defensive solution, drawing up a shortlist that has included Ibrahima Konate and Marc Guehi among others. The Spanish giants have highlighted centre-back as a position “marked in red” for strengthening ahead of next season, with spring identified as the decision-making period on key targets.
While some options have slipped away – Dayot Upamecano renewed at Bayern and Guéhi has already moved on to Manchester City – Madrid’s need for a high-level central defender remains.
Into that context comes Nico Schlotterbeck, the 26-year-old left-footed Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender, who has now emerged as the name enjoying the most consensus inside Valdebebas.
Madrid’s scouting department has been following him for some time, but in recent weeks that monitoring has intensified, with internal reports increasingly positive on his performances and profile. Schlotterbeck, who is also admired by Liverpool and has been linked as a solution for their own defensive refresh, fits the bill as a ball-playing centre-back with top-level Champions League and international experience.
According to AS, Schlotterbeck is under contract at Dortmund until 2027, but he has so far resisted extending his deal, leading the Bundesliga club to explore a sale rather than risk losing value further down the line. Dortmund have already started “combing the market” for a replacement left-sided centre-back, with the expectation that the German international could depart this summer.
AS add that Dortmund and Madrid enjoy an excellent working relationship, with previous two-way business involving the likes of Sahin, Achraf, Reinier and Jude Bellingham smoothing the path for talks.
The fee for Schlotterbeck is expected to be around 50 million euros – a figure lowered by his contract situation – with Madrid now well placed at the front of what is becoming a high-profile transfer race.
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