Real Madrid eye Adam Wharton and Kees Smit to future-proof midfield

Real Madrid are lining up Adam Wharton and Kees Smit as priority options to refresh the midfield for 2025. Club decision-makers view Wharton - currently thriving at Crystal Palace - as a ready-made controller with Premier League rhythm, while AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit profiles as a smart-value development pick. With Toni Kroos retired and Luka Modric in veteran minutes, Madrid want another reliable passer to complement Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde and Guler. Early groundwork is underway, pricing scenarios are mapped, and both profiles fit Carlo Ancelotti’s structure. The mood at Valdebebas is calm and confident that one of the two gets done.

Spanish outlets, including reporting from Mario Cortegana, indicate Madrid’s recruitment team have advanced their 2025 midfield shortlist. After Kroos’ farewell in 2024 and Modric’s reduced role, the club want a progressive passer who can set tempo alongside Tchouameni and Camavinga. Wharton has surged since joining Crystal Palace in early 2024, earning international recognition. Smit has impressed for AZ with control under pressure and smart positioning in Eredivisie matches. Madrid have tracked both extensively through live scouting and data reports.

🚨 Adam Wharton & Kees Smit are potential midfield signings for Real Madrid. @MarioCortegana

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a tactical lens, Wharton checks Madrid’s most pressing box: control. He is calm receiving under pressure, plays vertically without forcing it, and has the range to switch play early to runners like Vinicius and Rodrygo. In Ancelotti’s double pivot or as the left-sided 8 in a 4-3-1-2 phase, he would complement Tchouameni’s ball-winning and allow Camavinga to surge higher or rotate to left-back when game state demands. His set-piece delivery is an extra plus in tight La Liga away days.

Smit offers a different pathway. He profiles as a high-IQ metronome who keeps the spacing tidy, similar to early-Frenkie tendencies, with good body orientation and repeatable reception angles between lines. The cost is expected to be far lower, and the club could explore a buy-and-loan-back, easing adaptation while protecting upside.

Operationally, this is clean. Non-EU slots are manageable for Madrid with recent naturalisations freeing room, and wages for both players fit within the current structure. Squad balance improves without blocking minutes: Valverde stays the high-energy connector, Guler remains a creative change-up, and Modric’s leadership guides a soft handover. Risks are mostly adaptation and price. Palace are tough negotiators and will point to Premier League premiums for Wharton. AZ are open to smart exits but want guarantees on development. Even so, both names align with Madrid’s long-standing policy: sign technical profiles early, integrate them around leaders, and let the ceiling rise in May.

Reaction

The fan base is split but lively. A segment argues Madrid don’t need another young midfielder right now, pointing at Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde and Guler already jostling for starts. Their main worry is control in big games since Kroos left - they want a ready-made conductor, not another prospect. Wharton convinces some but the Premier League premium triggers concern. Others roll their eyes at a perceived English-media hype cycle and ask for proven Champions League rhythm.

On the other side, plenty of Madridistas like the plan. They see fresh legs and a different passing profile as exactly what the team needs for the next cycle. Smit is seen as low-risk, high-learning, especially if Madrid retain flexibility with a loan-back. There are playful jabs from rivals - comparisons to Pedri pop up - and pragmatic reminders that tough fixtures are coming, so depth is non-negotiable. The overall tone: curious, cautious on price, but open to one of the two if the club execute with the same patience that landed Bellingham at the perfect moment.

Social reactions

Do they think signing mid players helps solve the crises

F. Valverde 8 (@zshrc_de)

Both can't compare Pedri’s left leg

Dreamchaser (@Dreamch60903210)

Wharton is an amazing player

Bowen (@BowenShumba)

Prediction

Trajectory points to Madrid pressing ahead for one signing in 2025. My read: Wharton is the A-list target if the numbers stay under a threshold Madrid consider healthy for a controller, something in the region of an initial fee plus performance add-ons tied to minutes, trophies and Champions League progression. Palace will try to anchor high. Madrid typically respond with structure, not auctions. Expect contacts to accelerate after the winter window opens, but a summer close looks more realistic.

Smit is the strategic alternative. A fee in the mid-teens could be wrapped with a loan-back to AZ, allowing him to play uninterrupted minutes and arrive for pre-season with a full year of growth. Madrid like this pathway because it protects the ceiling and caps risk. If Wharton pricing explodes, Smit becomes the sensible pivot.

Either way, the club will hedge with internal solutions. Ancelotti can toggle Valverde inside in control games, and Guler can log more midfield touches against low blocks. Final call: Madrid sign one of the two, with Wharton slightly more likely if the market cooperates. If not, Smit plus a staged integration plan keeps the midfield refresh on schedule.

Latest today

• Mohamed Salah questions Liverpool future after benching vs Leeds - Saudi links intensify
• Wolves line up Patrik Mercado as Jhon Arias succession plan, non-homegrown slot set to ope...
• Barcelona optimistic on Marcus Rashford stay as Hansi Flick pushes for permanent move
• Real Madrid set to open talks with Antonio Rüdiger - optimism high for new deal

Conclusion

I’ve watched Wharton live at Selhurst Park this year - the composure is real. He checks over both shoulders, invites pressure, then plays through the first line without drama. A Palace analyst I trust described him as coach-proof: neat in any structure. That trait travels well to the Bernabeu. Smit, meanwhile, has that AZ schooling you notice straight away - body shape, angles, small-space courage. He would take a beat to adjust to Madrid’s tempo, but the foundation is there.

The bigger picture is clear. Madrid are not hoarding prospects; they are sequencing the midfield for the next five years. Kroos is irreplaceable in feel, but control can be rebuilt by committee if you choose profiles wisely. Wharton offers plug-in control now. Smit offers a patient, high-upside lane. Price and timing will decide the name, not doubt about the fit. If you’re asking me today, this is a smart, measured move that keeps the team young, technical and hungry - exactly how this club has stayed on top through multiple cycles.