Real Madrid inform Carlo Ancelotti of transfer call for January window | OneFootball

Real Madrid, true to form, will not be making any moves in the January transfer market. Despite suffering something of an injury crisis in their backline, which has seen Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao ruled out for the rest of the season, and David Alaba only returning recently from his own fitness issues, Los Blancos will not strengthen.

There are still six days left for Real Madrid to do a deal in the January window, but they have informed manager Carlo Ancelotti that they will not be making any further moves before the deadline. Marca say he will be forced to make do with the resources currently at his disposal.

Real Madrid had attempted to agree a deal with Liverpool for right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold this month, but it appears they have given up on that idea after the Scouse side rejected any bids outright. They were initially hoping to do a deal for around €15m, with some reports saying they were willing to go as high as €25m. Los Blancos have an agreement in principle for Alexander-Arnold to join in the summer on a free at the end of his contract, but Liverpool are set to continue trying to retain him until the last.

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That is the area that will be most affected by the decision. Lucas Vazquez is the only natural option for Ancelotti at right-back, but has been exposed on numerous occasions. In bigger matches, Ancelotti is expected to turn to Fede Valverde or Raul Asencio to fill in at the position. Youngsters Jesus Fortea and Loren Aguado are other alternatives that seem less probable.

With Alaba back from injury, Ancelotti will select one of the Austrian, Asencio or Aurelien Tchouameni to partner Antonio Rudiger in the centre of defence. Previousy it has been reported that some within Real Madrid do not believe they can win the Champions League with Vazquez at right-back though, and Ancelotti has been arguing for reinforcements this winter. It looks as if those pleas will fall on deaf ears.