Real Madrid will mostly skip the transfer market this summer as the Spanish club simply decided to recall loaned out players for the campaign next season. No thanks to the coronavirus lockdown, recruitment will be put on hold to avoid unnecessary spending, reports said.
The decision was made following the side's exit from the Champions League and reports from Spain indicated that the club has already informed the Real squad. Jose Angel Sanchez broke the news to the team members and explained that the organization will not be hiring in the summer due to financial constraints.
Instead, Real will bolster the existing first-team with players that have been called back. According to Metro, at least three players are confirmed to rejoin Los Blancos and one of them is keeper Andriy Lunin, who will be taking the place of departing Alphonse Areola.
Another target for reintegration to the team is Dani Ceballos, who was first reported to either extend his loan deal with Arsenal or transfer permanently to Real Betis. Ceballos impressed on his loan spell in the Premier League last season and Real executives are hoping that the playmaker will finally make the regular squad under Zinedine Zidane.
Possibly the most notable returnee is Martin Odegaard, whose loan deal with Real Sociedad has been officially terminated by his parent team. The Norwegian is touted as the strongest candidate to replace Luka Modric.
The 21-year-old has a five-year contract with Bernabeu but has only appeared in two games for Real as a senior, Goal reported. For the most part, Odegaard spent his career with the La Liga giants on loan and his most notable spell so far is with Sociedad.
With the club, the Norway international shone in the last season as he found the net seven times and figured in the completion of nine more goals. The youngster will be given a shot to win a spot in Los Blancos' central midfield area that currently is dominated by Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro.
In a statement, the Sociedad board confirmed Odegaard's exit to return to Madrid and indicated that the young player will be missed.
"We will never forget everything that has made us enjoy this unforgettable season ... His goals, his football, his character, his effort, and his humility have made Martin be remembered with immense affection by the entire royal family," the club was reported as saying.
Real players are now on holiday but are advised to report back for pre-season training on August 30. The focus for the Spanish giants next season is to retain the La Liga crown and do better in the Champions League following two consecutive seasons of frustration.
