Real Madrid Identify Priority Target After Deals Hit Dead End

As usual, there has been lots of noise and talk regarding Real Madrid and the summer transfer window.

We have been covering it as much as we possibly can, and aggregated briefings a number of times, including Monday and Tuesday (today), which you can look at with the links. 

Well, despite those briefings both having come in the past 24 hours, it looks like there have been significant updates, so let's take a look. 

Firstly, it is being reported by Diario AS that a potential deal for West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes is off, as the player himself prefers to join Tottenham Hotspur instead. 

You may scoff at such an idea, but the guarantee of game time will clearly be something that appeals to him, as well as the idea of staying in London and not having to relocate. 

Meanwhile, the same outlet are also reporting that the club have been informed that signing Michael Olise will be impossible during this summer transfer window. 

So, we can all put two and two together. The signing of a central midfielder in Fernandes is off, and the signing of a blockbuster signing for north of 100m in Olise is also off. 

Well, that all leads to a midfield signing who would be north of 100m. Me and you could work that out, but Diario AS have even said so themselves: The club will now turn all their focus towards signing Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea. He is the "chosen one." 

Meanwhile, they also say that the 24-year old will do "everything possible" to try and make a deal go through, whilst he is said to have always been Jose Mourinho's "number one priority". 

So, it is very clear - the club are going to try whatever they can to sign the Argentine international. It is going to be a very long and drawn out process, especially in a World Cup summer. There is quite a possibility that this goes on right up until the very end of the transfer window, though hopefully not. 

The Athletic are saying that Chelsea would be willing to accept an offer of 140 million Euros for Fernandez, which is consistent with the reports that they are looking for 120 million pounds for the player. It is hard to see Real Madrid paying quite that much, to be honest, so let's see if a middle ground can be achieved.