Real Madrid draw up five-man midfield shortlist as Rodri move swings towards Barcelona

Real Madrid are being forced to rethink their midfield plans after negotiations for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri dramatically changed direction, with the Manchester City player now close to signing for Barcelona.

Rodri had been one of the players proposed by Enrique Riquelme in his programme for the Real Madrid presidency. However, the latest developments have left the club needing to reassess its options, particularly following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

The Spanish giants require a midfielder capable of controlling the tempo and helping to build attacks, and journalist Jose David Lopez has identified five possible alternatives on the El Larguero programme.

Lopez acknowledged that replacing Rodri would be extremely difficult because he considers him the best defensive midfielder in the world. However, he suggested that the five candidates could offer Real Madrid different solutions, both immediately and over the longer term.

The first name on the list is England international Adam Wharton, the 22-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder. Lopez believes Wharton is the closest of the five options to Rodri in terms of his characteristics.

“He is very calm on the ball, has excellent anticipation, keeps his composure under pressure and his style of play resembles Rodri’s in many ways,” Lopez said.

Wharton’s performances have attracted interest from several leading clubs in the English top flight, according to the report.

The second option is France Under-? rising talent Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is only 18. Lopez sees Bouaddi as an ideal player for the role because of his composure, decision-making and ability to break through lines with his dribbling.

Bouaddi’s market value has risen to about 80m euros, but Lopez considers him a long-term investment who could become the central figure in Real Madrid’s midfield for many years.

If Real Madrid want an experienced solution who could contribute immediately, Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves is another possibility. The 29-year-old offers extensive experience, proven quality in distributing the ball and leadership qualities.

“He has always attracted offers from European clubs, and his experience and leadership would be extremely useful now,” Lopez said. “He is one of the most qualified players to lead Real Madrid’s attacking build-up from the outset.”

A different type of option is Denmark international Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who is 31. His appeal lies in his physical strength, tactical discipline and ability to cover large areas of the pitch.

Højbjerg does not offer the same potential for development as Bouaddi, but he could provide the seriousness and balance Real Madrid need. His possible cost of no more than 15m euros, and potentially less, would also make him an attractive option financially.

The final candidate identified by Lopez is Turkiye midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, whom he considers the most likely choice if Real Madrid decide to act quickly while remaining within their budget.

“I have always thought about him since Modric left. He has never stopped improving. If I had to sign someone tomorrow, I would choose him,” Lopez said.

Calhanoglu is valued for his intelligence, composure under pressure and ability to accelerate the game with only a few touches. He is also highly effective from set pieces, including free-kicks and penalties.

Real Madrid therefore have a range of possible approaches: Wharton and Bouaddi would represent longer-term projects, while Neves, Højbjerg and Calhanoglu could provide greater experience and an immediate response in midfield.