Real Madrid ‘exploring €500m summer deal’ as Klopp linked with Bernabéu job

January 17, 2026 Oliver Obel

Real Madrid are approaching a pivotal summer as the club reassesses its direction following another unsettled campaign. With performance concerns mounting and long-term planning already underway, senior figures at the Bernabéu are understood to be exploring major changes both on and off the pitch.

Rather than viewing recent results in isolation, the club’s leadership appears focused on a broader reset one that could reshape the technical staff and redefine the squad’s attacking identity.

Coaching uncertainty after Alonso exit

That reassessment accelerated this week when Xabi Alonso departed his role as head coach, ending a brief seven-month spell in charge. His exit was confirmed one day after Real Madrid’s emphatic defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, a result that intensified scrutiny on the club’s direction.

Former defender Álvaro Arbeloa has stepped in on an interim basis. Arbeloa, who has been working within Real Madrid’s youth structure since 2005 and most recently coached the B team, took charge for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match, which ended in a surprise 3–2 loss to Albacete.

According to reporting in Spain, the club does not expect Arbeloa to remain in the role beyond the current season and intends to appoint a permanent head coach in the summer.

Klopp emerges as long-term option

Spanish outlet Fichajes reports that club president Florentino Pérez has identified Jürgen Klopp as a standout candidate should Real Madrid move decisively in a new direction. Klopp has not held a frontline managerial position since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.

The German coach, now 58, has since taken up a senior executive role as Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull Group. Despite that position, Fichajes suggests Pérez believes Klopp’s profile particularly his leadership record and experience managing elite squads aligns with Real Madrid’s ambitions.

The outlet describes Klopp’s tactical identity as a strong fit for a squad built around attacking talent, though no formal talks have been reported.

Transfer ambitions remain expansive

Managerial planning is only one part of the picture. The same report claims Pérez is also considering another high-impact move in the transfer market, even with Real Madrid already boasting Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham.

According to Fichajes, the club president is interested in exploring the possibility of signing Erling Haaland, with the vision of pairing him alongside Mbappé. The outlet argues such a partnership would extend beyond sporting value, citing potential commercial and global branding benefits.

However, significant financial obstacles remain.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Patrick Berger has warned that any deal for Haaland would be extraordinarily complex, estimating a total cost of around €500 million once transfer fees, bonuses and long-term wages are factored in. Berger described the scenario as “very difficult.”

Contract and cost realities

Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and signed a new 10-year contract in January, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2034.

The Norwegian striker’s output underlines his value: 105 Premier League goals in 118 appearances. That record, combined with his long-term contract, highlights the scale of the challenge facing any club considering a move.

For now, both the managerial and transfer plans remain speculative but together they point to a summer in which Real Madrid may once again attempt to redefine the limits of ambition.

Sources: Fichajes, Sky Sports Germany