Real Madrid have added VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller to their list of potential targets for the summer. (h/t Marca).
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is set to take over as Madrid’s head coach next month, succeeding Carlo Ancelotti.
The Spaniard wants to bolster the squad ahead of the Club World Cup and has prioritised signing a new midfielder.
Stiller is among the top targets on his wishlist after being impressed by the German international’s performances in the Bundesliga.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a quick rise to prominence as one of the coveted midfielders in Europe following his stellar performances with Stuttgart.
He has been a key cog in Stuttgart’s midfield, helping them finish runners-up in the Bundesliga last season.
Despite Stuttgart’s decline this season, Stiller has maintained his consistency, racking up eight assists in 32 league games.
The German midfielder’s performances have turned the heads of top European clubs, and he is available for around €40 million this summer.
Alonso is also looking to bring midfielder Exequiel Palacios from Leverkusen to Santiago Bernabeu.
The Argentine has been an integral part of Die Werkself’s resurgence in the last couple of years, which has seen them soar to the top of the Bundesliga.
Los Blancos are also keeping tabs on AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, but Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign him this summer.
River Plate’s teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono is also on Madrid’s radar.
The Spanish giants are on the verge of securing the transfer of Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and are looking to follow up with more signings.
Stiller – the perfect Toni Kroos successor
Real Madrid have failed to fill the void of Toni Kroos since his retirement, despite having a stacked midfield.
None of the players in the current crop have a profile similar to the German legend, and it has been one of the reasons behind Madrid’s lacklustre campaign this season.
Dani Ceballos has revitalised himself to become a standout in the midfield this season, but his injury problems cost Madrid dearly.
Luka Modric is also at the ebb of his career and could leave Bernabeu when his contract expires this summer.
Stiller can be a breath of fresh air to Madrid’s less dynamic midfield.
He is cut from the same cloth as his compatriot Kroos, possessing all the abilities of a tempo controller and deep-lying playmaker.
Stiller is an immaculate passer and brings more composure to the game, something lacking in Madrid’s current midfielders.
He is also a high-volume progressive passer, averaging 1.97 key passes and 9.12 passes into the final third per game.
While top prospects like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have hogged the limelight, Stiller is also in the same bracket as the best German talents.
The former Bayern Munich academy star will be a shrewd addition for Madrid, and his €40m price tag looks like a steal.
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