There was no stopping Real Madrid after the resumption of the Spanish football season. Indeed, Zinedine Zidane’s side won 10 straight games following lockdown to take control of the title race at the top of La Liga. Los Blancos head into the summer as Spanish champions for only the second time in the last eight years.

But for all the success Real Madrid have enjoyed this season in wrestling back the Spanish title from Barcelona, this is a group of players that still finds itself in the midst of a generational transition. The likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and even Sergio Ramos will have to be phased out of the Real Madrid starting lineup over the next few years and so there is no time for Los Blancos to rest on their laurels.

However, there is a suggestion that the Santiagio Bernabeu club won’t have much money to spend this summer. The coronavirus pandemic has hit most clubs across Europe, but the noises out of Real Madrid are that they have been hit harder than most. Spanish football in general seems to have been hit harder than most.

Reports claim Real Madrid will have to sell players before they can buy anyone this summer. There is fortunately, for their sake, a lot of deadwood for them to shift. James Rodriguez, for instance, is now seen as surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Colombian has struggled for game time this season and has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Mariano Diaz is another who could be moved on, with the striker barely featuring for Real Madrid this season. Then there’s Gareth Bale, the Welsh winger who become something of a sideshow with his antics in the stands as Los Blancos marched their way to the Spanish title. If Real Madrid could find a buyer for Bale, significant funds could be freed up for new signings.

But selling these players in this depressed transfer market is going to be tough. Clubs are being more creative in the way they are strengthening this summer and so this might make it more difficult to sell their players in orthodox transfer deals. They might have to enter the loans and free agents market like everyone else if they want to reinforce their squad ahead of next season.

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Zinedine Zidane knows how to get the most out of a squad. The Frenchman returned to the Santiago Bernabeu last year and was handed a Real Madrid team lacking in identity, direction and confidence and in just over 12 months he turned them into Spanish champions. Zidane proved his worth as a coach and a manager this season.

Indeed, by revitalising the likes of Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos, Zidane was able to squeeze more out of a squad most had assumed was past its expiry date. Of course, a generational transition will still need to happen at Real Madrid, but for the time being their current team is delivering.

And yet there is still some deadwood weighing them down. With the summer transfer window set to open soon, it’s highly likely Real Madrid will have to move on some players before they can buy anyone. It could be a frustrating window for Los Blancos if they are unable to find buyers for players they don’t need.

James Rodriguez is almost certain to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. The Colombian was recalled by Zidane last summer having failed to earn a permanent move to Bayern Munich after a loan spell there, suggesting that he would be used by Real Madrid. Barring a few sporadic appearances, though, James has been a peripheral figure.

A move to the Premier League has been mooted, with Arsenal and Manchester United among those interested, but offloading James in this economic climate might prove difficult. Dani Ceballos is another whose future at the Santiago Bernabeu is far from certain. The midfielder has impressed at times on loan at Arsenal this season, but is expected to return to his parent club once that loan agreement has expired.

Then there’s Mariano Diaz and Brahim Diaz, both of whom have played a bit part role for Real Madrid this season. But Real Madrid’s biggest chunk of deadwood is undoubtedly Gareth Bale. The Welshman is still the club’s highest paid player, but has barely featured for Los Blancos since the restart of the season.

Real Madrid tried to move Bale on last summer, with the winger coming close to a switch to a Chinese Super League, but there is no suggestion that he will leave the club in this window. That means a significant chunk of cash remains tied up at the Santiago Bernabeu, making it much tougher for Real Madrid to get anyone in this summer.

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