Real Madrid continue to shake up the summer transfer window, as they hope to put an end to Barcelona’s La Liga reign once and for all this upcoming season.
With Jose Mourinho calling the shots behind the scenes, Los Blancos have gotten rid of some deadwood while adding key players, and they seem far from done in retooling their squad. Several outlets reported that Los Blancos have agreed to sign one of the hottest commodities in the transfer market, and they’ve also been linked to a recent Ballon d’Or winner.
Meanwhile, Barcelona need to scour for reinforcements after it was confirmed that one of their stars will miss some time due to a serious injury. This is also the case for Valencia, who plan to defy the La Liga 2026 odds to re-enter the European football race.
Check out the latest La Liga 2026 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Diomande agrees to terms with Real Madrid
Real Madrid will get a massive boost up front, following the impending arrival of Yan Diomande – whom they signed for around £100 million from RB Leipzig. The 19-year-old winger becomes the most expensive African player in history.
Diomande, a huge Cristiano Ronaldo fan, once dreamed of playing for Los Blancos, and he’ll finally get his wish. Diomande notched 12 league goals and eight assists in his debut Bundesliga campaign, and his meteoric rise attracted several suitors, including PSG, who pulled out in the end. He also played well during the recently concluded World Cup, notching one assist to help Ivory Coast reach the Round of 32, where they eventually lost 2-1 to Norway.
A hyper-athletic and creative winger, Diomande is already among the best dribblers in Europe. He is far from a finished article, as his finishing and passing need work, but he should develop well under head coach Jose Mourinho. Given he has connected well with right-back Ridle Baku at RB Leipzig, Diomande will surely benefit from playing alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella.
Diomande’s confirmation also triggered rumours about Vinicius Jr. potentially leaving the Bernabeu. The Brazilian star has one year left on his current contract with Real Madrid and has been linked to Arsenal.
On the other hand, Real Madrid have long been linked to Rodri, who has one year left in his current contract with Manchester City but has a worrying injury history. At the time of writing, the two powerhouse clubs are in negotiations.
Barcelona set to lose key midfielder
Barcelona suffered a massive blow in the middle of the park, as Frenkie de Jong will miss the start of the 2026-27 campaign and could be set for months on the sidelines due to a torn MCL.
The 29-year-old midfielder started all four games at the World Cup this summer, as the Netherlands bowed out in the Round of 32 to Morocco. Barcelona executives, including head coach Hansi Flick, were reportedly furious that de Jong played through injury in the quadrennial tournament. He was a crucial player for Flick last term, making 38 appearances in all competitions, notching one league goal and five assists.
Given their well-documented financial constraints, Barcelona will find it difficult to find a replacement for de Jong. They’ve already spent a fortune on Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and are near to sign Joao Cancelo to a permanent deal, so the Blaugrana will likely give La Masia boys more run this year.
Many pundits believe Marc Bernal could be the main beneficiary of de Jong’s absence. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder didn’t start much last season, but he still managed to score more league goals than de Jong (two), despite playing fewer than 1,500 minutes. Frenkie de Jong’s absence also means more responsibilities for Pedri, Gavi, Marc Casado, and Fermin Lopez.
Injury blows already for Valencia
Valencia might find it difficult to replicate or outdo their ninth-place finish last season, as they’ll enter the 2026-27 campaign without some of their best players. According to reports, Umar Sadiq is dealing with a minor hamstring tear, while Pepelu picked up a knock (although it’s not that serious), and Jose Copete and Diego Lopez remain long-term absentees.
Sadiq was one of Los Ches’ top scorers last season with four league goals and two assists, serving as Hugo Duro’s backup.
Pepelu had two league goals and was a key player in the middle of the park. He should begin easing back in at St. George’s Park over the coming training sessions, and could be available as soon as their club friendly against Stoke City.
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