beIN SPORTS

By Des Norris

While the rest of the European heavyweights have been busy making big splashes in the transfer market, Real Madrid have, in rather uncharacteristic fashion, taken a backseat this summer and opted to strengthen from within instead.

Aside from the reacquisitions of Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio, the playing personnel at the Bernabeu hasn’t changed ahead of the 2016-17 season.

That’s not to say Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane have been sitting idle since winning La Undecima. However, instead of attracting more big names to a roster replete with super stars, both men seem to have adhered to the mantra ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it’.

As well as Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard, two of the team’s stalwarts in attack, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, committed their futures to the club by renewing their contracts during the summer months.

Spanish sports daily Marca reports that Luka Modric will be the next key player to put pen to paper.

The Croatia international’s current deal with the club runs until June 2018, but it is widely expected he will extend his contract for a further two seasons.

Modric quickly established himself as a fan favorite after signing from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and has become a very popular figure within the Bernabeu dressing room.