Real Madrid's central defence has been a shaky department in recent years, not for a lack of quality but a consistent injury record that has often left the team short-staffed.
After the last international break, there was a brief period where Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger seemed to be the team's only two fit centre-backs, and talks of a new defensive signing once again rose to the fore.
The central defence, after all, has been one of Real Madrid's priorities in recent transfer windows. While they did bring in Ibrahima Konate, there has always been a sense that a new signing like Nico Schlotterbeck or Alessandro Bastoni is a necessity.
Real Madrid's defense is in a good moment. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Now, as reported by Defensa Central , Jose Mourinho is satisfied with the defensive depth at his disposal and does not see any need to rope in a new player in the department.
Bastoni and Schlotterbeck have been discarded as options in that sense.
As far as the upcoming winter transfer market is concerned, Los Blancos will make no new defensive signings. There is optimism on the depth of the department after Militao's return from injury and the form of Rudiger, Konate and Huijsen.
Konate and Huijsen, at this point, seem to be the de facto starting pair and Rudiger has been an able backup. Militao will slowly make his way back to prominence, while Asencio will also eventually return to the dynamics.
Mourinho has high hopes on Militao. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
The Spanish outlet further confirms that Mourinho has high hopes for Militao who is widely considered the team's best defender when fit.
Injuries have not been kind to the Brazilian star in recent years, and he has largely stayed out of action with back-to-back long-term setbacks.
Now, however, he is back to full fitness and ready to restart his chapter with Real Madrid. The club, unsurprisingly, prefer to err on the side of caution and will not hasten his comeback.
Militao's level after his gradual return, in that sense, will be crucial in helping the administration make a decision on whether or not a summer recruitment is needed in defence. He is the management's big bet.
