Real Madrid aims to become a free agent this summer

Real Madrid may have a chance to sign former centre-back Emeric Laporte in a free transfer this summer, but there is no guarantee that Dean Wheesen will come to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The centre-back has been a persistent problem for Real Madrid this season, David Alaba has been plagued by minor physical problems after returning after a long absence from the ACL, Edel Militon was eliminated for the second time in years due to his ACL problem, and even Antonio Rudiger is not impeccable.

spent a breakthrough season at Bournemouth and was impressed in his national team debut for Spain in March, Dean Heisen was sought after by Real Madrid. The 20-year-old has a termination clause of £50m (€59m) that can be paid in three parts, making it an attractive offer.

However, while Hughson looks unlikely to choose Chelsea, there is fierce competition between Arsenal and Liverpool for his signing, which could undermine Real Madrid's hopes.

However, a strange alternative is emerging, and that is Laporte. AS raised the question as Saudi Arabia reports that Laporte has been negotiating with Al Nassr to end his contract a year early. There are signs that he may soon be a free agent and he hasn't played two games so far this month.

Laporte joined Al Nassr in 2023 for the equivalent of 30m euros (£25m), after he has won five Premier League titles in his five and a half years at Manchester City. He has been a staple of Manchester City before and after suffering a long knee injury in August 2019. However, he failed to re-win the starting position when he was healthy due to missing the club’s triple-winning season for the 2022/23 season.

This prompted the Spanish international to join the Saudi professional league, but he still played for Spain in the European Cup last summer. Laporte will turn 31 by the end of this month, and if Wheesen eventually turns elsewhere, at least in the short term, he could be a wise addition to Real Madrid.