Real Madrid’s possible January transfer deals: Three potential moves with an eye towards the future

With the January transfer window now open in Spain, we have a look at three possible players that Real Madrid could sign with the next decade firmly in mind.

Branimir Mlačić 

18-year-old centre-back (CB) Mlačić is currently plying his trade with HNK Hajduk Split in his native Croatia.

A product of the Hajduk youth set-up, he has already made 18 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2025/26 campaign, including in the qualifying rounds of this season’s Europa Conference League.

A representative of the Croatian Under 21s, after progressing up from the U19s, the commanding CB is actively linked with a move to Inter Milan and Real Madrid in the January transfer window.

Dominant in the air, courtesy of his 6ft 3’, the wonderkid could be Los Blancos’ long-term replacement for Antonio Rüdiger, who could be on his way to Beşiktaş.

The right-footed defender could be the perfect addition alongside summer signing Dean Huijsen, who can operate on either the left or the right side of defence.

Something making Mlačić’s Madrid look more likely to occur is that the upper echelons at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu seem to be planning ahead for the future on the pitch. Take a look at Endrick and Huijsen, etc. and the players we will discuss next. 

A reported market value of just under £3.5million could turn out to be a bargain for the former Champions League winners.

Min-hyeok Yang: 

Currently on loan at Portsmouth from Tottenham Hotspur, the South Korean international has only scored twice in 14 league appearances, but he has produced some stand-out performances.

The highly-sought-after attacking asset was signed from Gangwon in his native South Korea for £3.49million in January 2025, but has yet to make a competitive appearance for Spurs since.

Min-hyeok channelled his credentials throughout his early playing career to tempt Tottenham into signing him by being named in the 2023/2024 K League 1 Team of the Year.

In addition to being voted the K League 1 Rookie of the Season in the same season. The winger’s contract is now set to expire this summer, and Madrid could wait to sign Min-hyeok on a free transfer, but they might potentially face competition by that time.

It might just be easier for manager Xabi Alonso to try and convince Club President Florentino Pérez to tempt Tottenham with a cheeky bid for the winger this month.

The South Korean wing wizard is only one year older than Mlačić, so that could potentially flow with Madrid’s trend of purchasing young, developing talent.

Gilberto Mora

If you thought Madrid was recruiting for the next five to 10 years with the potential signings of Min-hyeok (19) and Mlačić (18), Mora comes in at a year younger.

Despite only being 17 years old, the attacker, who plays for Mexican outfit Club Tijuana, has already participated in 14 matches across all competitions so far this season.

One of Tijuana’s own, after graduating from Club Tijuana Jugend’s setup, he primarily operates as an attacking midfielder and is also a full Mexican international with five caps.

However, Mora is expertly versatile enough to play on either the wing or as a secondary supporting striker.

A market of around £10million at his age already showcases how highly rated he is, so it’s no wonder that Madrid are sniffing around the Mexican international’s signature in January.