LaLiga Transfer Talk: Real Madrid put Ruben Neves on their midfield shortlist

With clubs now able to sign players in the January transfer window, we can look at three potential incoming through front door of LaLiga.

Rúben Neves from Al-Hilal to Real Madrid

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers box-to-box midfielder is reportedly being linked with a first taste of Spanish football, with Real Madrid expressing an interest in the Portuguese’s potential signature from Al-Hilal.

Currently playing in the Saudi Pro League since making a £47.7million switch from the Premier League, Neves has only missed three matches across all competitions for his current employers. That makes a move seem unlikely, but it could be hard for the prolific Portuguese player to reject a move to one of the biggest clubs in football.

With Madrid’s possible January transfer window looking to be directed towards the next decade of potential talent at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. For example, the arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, Neves’ age of 28, might just put off the Spanish footballing heavyweights. However, you never know what can happen in football.

So we might actually see Neves’ trusty right foot score one of his trademark long-range screamers at the Santiago Bernabéu from January onwards?

Martín Satriano from Lens to Valencia

Currently loaned out to Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, but out of contract in the summer, there is every chance that Satriano’s parent club, Lens, could cash in on the supporting secondary striker in January.

The Uruguay international’s spell at Les Gones hasn’t been anything to write home to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis about after only scoring twice in 11 league matches this season.

However, Satriano’s next potential club has struggled to find the back of the net throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

Valencia are currently languishing in the LaLiga relegation zone after scoring only 17 goals this season. Only four clubs, bottom-of-the-table Oviedo, Vallecano, Alavés and Getafe, have scored fewer this season across the top flight of Spanish football.

Putting that into the current Valencia manager, Carlos Corberán’s playbook, it could easily result in Satriano becoming a Los Che player in the January transfer window.

Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahçe to Celta Vigo

With Fenerbahçe battling defending Süper Lig champions Galatasaray for the 2025/26 Turkish title, a move away from the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for Oosterwolde could be tricky in January.

The fact that the central defender is one of the first names on manager Domenico Tedesco’s starting team sheet means the latest club linked with his signature will have to pay big money.

Having been an employee at Fenerbahçe since signing on the dotted line from Parma in January 2023, the Dutchman has become a fans’ favourite, with his consistently disciplined defensive displays.

However, the versatile Oosterwolde can also operate in several other positions, including at left back and on the same side of the midfield.

His adaptability has clearly caught the attention of Celta, so could the temptation of the potentially playing in Spain be a deciding factor in Oosterwolde making a move or not in the January transfer window?