With Sergio Ramos leaving the club and numerous transfer links linking Raphael Varane away from the Spanish capital, Jesus Vallejo is the man who will looking to snatch the opportunity for a place in Real Madrid's first-team.
Excluding Ramos and Varane, Carlo Ancelotti has three center-backs in the squad in addition to Vallejo: Eder Militao, Nacho Fernandez and the newcomer David Alaba.
The club does not want to make a large investment in signings this summer beyond the potential signings of Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland.
The possibility of strengthening the defence in case the sales go as planned is not ruled out, but it is not the priority and this would not have to mean the departure of Vallejo taking into account the injury problems that Madrid had last season and that players like Alaba or Nacho can occupy other positions.
Although his progression was cut short in 2019 in a loan to Wolves that did not go as expected, Vallejo's last season in Granada has allowed him to regain regularity, playing 2,389 minutes spread over 37 games.
He has done it in three positions: in addition to being central, his natural position, he has occupied the pivot or the right back. He has been a player full of confidence under Diego Martínez in one of the revelation teams of the season.
It will be an interesting watch to see how Ancelotti will work him up to playing in the current Los Blancos squad, but one thing is certain, Vallejo doesn't want anyone to go out on loan and want to establish himself and his identity at Madrid.
