Real Madrid's frightening XI in 2023 if they beat Liverpool to Bellingham deal

Real Madrid's desire to be the best in the business is unrelenting - so it's no surprise that they're after arguably the best young midfielder in world football.

Jude Bellingham has emerged as Los Blancos' top transfer target ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window, with Liverpool joining them in the hotly-contested chase. While the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have also been tipped to sign the teenage sensation, Madrid and Liverpool appear to be the frontrunners.

But with Jurgen Klopp's Reds drifting further from their lofty standards this season, Carlo Ancelotti and co could have the upper hand in tempting Bellingham to the Bernabeu. As the reigning European champions - a feat which they achieved by beating Liverpool in May's Champions League final - Los Blancos are already looking to secure the 19-year-old's sought-after signature well before next summer.

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But not only are Real set to test Borussia Dortmund's resolve for Bellingham, but a host of other big-name transfer targets, too. Manchester City right-back Joao Cancelo is also on their wish-list, according to AS. While it seems a bold suggestion, the Portuguese ace will've turned 29 by next season and could fancy a fresh challenge back in Spain, replacing the long-serving Dani Carvajal.

Cancelo made his name at Valencia over a two-year spell which lasted until 2017, when he made the move to Italy to join Inter Milan. And it's in the Italian city where the Bernabeu bigwigs have identified another potential signing.

AC Milan talisman Rafael Leao has emerged as one of Serie A's fiercest forwards since arriving from Lille in 2019, even earning the division's MVP award as the Rossoneri pipped Inter to the Scudetto last term. Calciomercato, via ESPN, report that Milan have slapped an €120million (£104m) price tag on 23-year-old Leao's head, having also attracted interest from Chelsea.

Add those three signings into Ancelotti's starting XI and Madrid suddenly look like a future-proof side as opposed to one relying on ageing stars. With Casemiro already out the door, it's only a matter of time before the powers of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos finally fade and Madrid's legendary midfield trio is broken up for good.

Thankfully, French duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni - 19 and 22 respectively - are primed to step up to the mantle and run the engine room alongside Bellingham for years to come.

Have your say! Which club should Bellingham join - Liverpool or Real Madrid? Let us know in the comments section.

They'll have plenty of support from behind, too, with Cancelo and Ferland Mendy's potential full-back partnership surely being a formidable one. Sandwiching Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger at centre-back, the experienced David Alaba is still more than capable of filling in over a range of positions in the team, just like the more youthful Federico Valverde.

And up front, Leao can act as both a rotation option for Ballon d'Or favourite Karim Benzema and a starter out wide to compete with Brazilian starlet Rodrygo. To boot, winger Vinicius Junior is only getting better after a star-making season last time out, most memorably being the hero in the Champions League final along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who's certain to keep his spot.

With 15 European Cups already crammed into the trophy room, the Bernabeu staff might need to make some more room.

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