Real Madrid begin plans for another defensive overhaul this summer

Slumping to a stunning 1-0 loss at home against local rivals Getafe on Monday night, Real Madrid watched their La Liga title dreams take another public dent.

Missing out on the opportunity to cut the deficit in this season’s La Liga title scrap, Los Blancos now sit four points adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona and Alvaro Arbeloa already has some mounting pressure on his shoulders.

Enduring a turbulent time behind the scenes after shockingly ending Xabi Alonso’s eight-month reign back in January, Madrid have also been rocked by the news that attacking talisman Kylian Mbappe has sustained a knee injury and could face a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Although England international Trent Alexander-Arnold might have completed a controversial free switch to Madrid last summer, the 15-time European champions have continued to show some defensive inconsistencies.

Alongside recent speculation that Antonio Rudiger’s four-season spell at the Bernabeu could be coming to an end, Spanish starlet Dean Huijsen has also struggled to find his feet since completing a blockbuster £50million move from Bournemouth.

Ahead of what is a crucial summer behind the scenes in the Spanish capital, Los Blancos are reportedly beginning preparations for another defensive overhaul.

With a new central defender at the top of their summer wishlist, the Spanish icons are closely monitoring a couple of Europe’s hottest stars.

Nico Schlotterbeck – Borussia Dortmund

Falling to what looks set to be a season-defining 3-2 defeat at home against Bayern Munich over the weekend, it appears that the best that Borussia Dortmund can manage this season is yet another silver medal finish among Germany’s elite.

Suffering an infamous Champions League collapse away at Atalanta last week as they watched their European adventure come to a remarkable end following a 4-1 drumming on foreign soil, BVB have endured a nightmare fortnight in rural Germany.

Likewise, along with continued speculation over Karim Adeyemi’s long-term future at Signal Iduna Park, Niko Kovac’s side have already accepted that their defensive talisman will be actively searching for a move away this summer.

Although the German giants might have continued to show some of their usual defensive inconstancies this season, Nico Schlotterbeck has received a string of plaudits from across the continent.

Bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike in the Der Klassiker on Saturday, the former Freiburg youngster finds his stock at a red-hot high and is set to start at the heart of Germany’s defence at this summer’s World Cup.

With Schlotterbeck’s contract set to expire next summer, the Dortmund hierarchy know that this is their final chance to cash in on the 26-year-old.

With Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reporting that Los Blancos have identified the towering central defender as their key summer target, a fee in the region of €50million has been speculated.

🚨 🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid want Nico Schlotterbeck. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/8bqjRVlmD5

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 21, 2026

Micky van de Ven – Tottenham

While Tottenham might have made real history last season as they were crowned Europa League champions and ended their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, Spurs have come crashing back down to earth in an infamous fashion.

At the heart of a public crisis and sacking Thomas Frank last month, new boss Igor Tudor has an almighty job on his hands in north London and the Lilywhites are firmly in a relegation scrap.

Remarkably registering just four points from any of their previous 10 Premier League appearances, it is no surprise that Tottenham are expected to oversee a major squad overhaul.

With The Athletic reporting on Monday that most Tottenham players have a 50% wage cut clause in their contract should Spurs lose their top-flight status, it has been heavily suggested that Micky van de Ven is desperately searching for a north London exit this summer.

Although Spurs might have stated during the January transfer window that they would not allow the Dutch international to leave, Sky Spurs announced that van de Ven has no interest in opening talks over a potential extension.

Despite still having over three years remaining on his current deal in the English capital, the 24-year-old has suffered plenty of injury setbacks since arriving from Wolfsburg for a fee in the region of £34million in the summer of 2023.

Heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu over the past 18 months, van de Ven has plenty of admirers in Madrid and TEAMtalk reported over the weekend that the 17-cap international is ‘desperate’ to compete a Spanish switch this summer.

Micky van de Ven is said to be a ‘long way off’ signing a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur and it is understood that concrete talks over a new deal have not taken place ⚪️🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/GVkMtDZktV

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2026