Advisor Anas Laghari green-lights a €200m+ operation to bring the Man City striker and the former Liverpool boss to the Bernabéu.
While Real Madrid battles through current tactical instability under Álvaro Arbeloa, the club’s leadership is already architecting a massive restructuring for the 2026/27 season. According to club member Pepe Álvarez, the ambitious project has two primary targets: Erling Haaland and Jürgen Klopp.
The Haaland Operation Florentino Pérez’s financial strategist, Anas Laghari, is reportedly evaluating the feasibility of signing Haaland to solve the team’s current lack of a traditional “number 9.” Despite Kylian Mbappé’s presence, the board believes Haaland is the only player capable of sharing the goal-scoring burden and providing a focal point for the attack.
However, the operation is monumental. According to Sofascore, Haaland’s market value in 2026 stands at approximately €218 million. With the Norwegian under contract at Manchester City until 2033, Madrid would need to navigate complex negotiations and potentially shatter transfer records to bring him to Spain.
The Klopp Challenge To manage a squad of such magnitude, Madrid is eyeing Jürgen Klopp. The German, currently serving as the Global Sporting Director for Red Bull, would bring the “heavy metal” intensity the Bernabéu has lacked recently.
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Klopp has remained coy about the rumors, stating, “Interest from Real Madrid? That has nothing to do with me.” Beyond the contractual hurdles, experts suggest a tactical clash could emerge: Klopp’s high-pressing style (Gegenpressing) might struggle to adapt to players like Vinícius Jr., Mbappé, and Arda Güler, who prioritize individual brilliance over high-intensity defensive work.
A Long-Term Vision The “warning lights” are flashing at Valdebebas, and this 2026/27 plan signals that the club is ready to move on from the current era if results don’t improve. Replacing Arbeloa’s interim tenure with a figure as dominant as Klopp and a striker as lethal as Haaland would mark the beginning of a second “Galácticos” revolution.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
