Real Madrid have completed the biggest transfer in La Liga so far this summer, bringing in midfield superstar Jude Bellingham in a €103 million switch from Borussia Dortmund.
Los Blancos are still hoping to sign Kylian Mbappe during the close season and, if that deal comes off, it would trigger another huge outlay.
And the big La Liga 2023 news story this weekend concerns another major move at the Santiago Bernabeu, but this time it is a potential outgoing.
Bayern Munich are reported to be preparing at €100 million bid to take defencive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from Madrid to Bavaria, though it will not be an easy decision for Madrid to make as and when the offer comes in.
The 23-year-old France star has only been at the club for one year, bought last season from AS Monaco as a replacement for the outgoing Casemiro, and he has made a big impression, turning out 50 times in all competitions.
The player is very highly rated and would take some replacing, but Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti has some wheeling a dealing to do and it might be hard to turn down €100 million.
With Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio already departed and Mbappe still pondering his future, Los Blancos are left with the young Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo up front. And while they are both brilliant players, that is not a situation Ancelotti wants to start the next campaign in.
One solution could be for Bayern to offer Senegalese striker Sadio Mane as a sweetener in any deal to take Tchouameni to Munich.
The former Liverpool man had a nightmare of a first campaign with the Germans, struggling with form and injury and then burning his bridges in spectacular fashion when he had a fight with teammate Leroy Sane in the aftermath of Bayern’s Champions League loss to Manchester City.
Bayern want to recoup €20 million of the €32 million they paid to Liverpool last summer, and it could make good sense for Real Madrid to take a closer look, as Sane’s lighting pace and inventive skills will still give any defence a fright.
Barcelona’s balancing act continues
The pre-season La Liga 2023 betting odds predict another El Clasico shootout. And here at SBOTOP, we’ve also been watching the goings on in Catalonia.
Ilkay Gundogan has already made the move from Champions League winners Manchester City and the central midfielder is sure to play a big part in the Blaugrana’s title defence.
Experienced center-back Inigo Martinez has also moved from Athletic Bilbao to the Camp Nou, and head coach Xavi is still looking for more reinforcements in preparation for the 2023/24 campaign.
He is searching for a replacement for the retired Sergio Busquets and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat has been heavily linked with Barca. The Moroccan midfielder had a brilliant World Cup as the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals in Qatar and, as an enforcer just in front of the defencive unit, there are few better in world football.
But La Viola are demanding a hefty fee for the player who has just one year left on his contract, and Barca need to be clever with their dealings.
So the Catalans’ attention has turned to Girona midfielder Oriol Romeu this week. The former Southampton midfielder headed for Girona last summer, and he enjoyed a strong season for the Gironistes and he may be ready to make the short move to the Camp Nou.
Recent reports in the Spanish press suggest Barca are in advanced talks with their Catalonian neighbours and they are closing in on a deal. He made 36 appearances for Girona last season and, a strong defencive midfielder, Romeu would bring much needed steel to the Barcelona line-up.
But the financial situation at the Camp Nou means that Barcelona president Joan Laporta must work with Xavi to offload some players, preferably those with chunky salaries.
Striker Ferran Torres and midfielder Franck Kessie struggled for game time last season, and they could be sent on their way, while French center-back Clement Lenglet will likely make way for Martinez as he gets closer to making his move to Tottenham Hotspur permanent.
As ever, it is a balancing act for the financial managers and the coaching staff at the Camp Nou and a fine balance at that.
This is a gradual evolution at the club and one that made good progress last term as the Blaugrana won a first league title in four years. Xavi’s biggest priority must be to keep Ousmane Dembele at the club as his synergy with Robert Lewandowski was hugely apparent last term.
Then it’s all about tweaking and improving the stock behind the front two.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
