VfB Stuttgart defender on Real Madrid's radar

Real Madrid are continuing their efforts to monitor the top defensive talents around the world, with a particular focus on the centre-back position, despite currently having five defenders in this role: Dean Hausen, Ibrahima Konaté, Raúl Asensio, Antonio Rüdiger, and Éder Militão.

The royal club had signed Hausen in the summer of 2025 for around 60 million euros, before bringing in Konaté this summer on a free transfer after his contract with Liverpool ended. However, Real Madrid's management continues to explore its options for the future.

According to "AS", one of the names being followed by Real Madrid is the German Finn Jeltsch, a 20-year-old defender at VfB Stuttgart, who is delivering remarkable performances that have put him in the considerations of the German national team.

Real Madrid may not urgently need to sign a new centre-back at the moment, but the situation of some players could prompt the club to act in the future.

The source clarified that Antonio Rüdiger is entering the final year of his contract and may leave at the end of the season depending on his performance, while Éder Militão enjoys the club's technical confidence. However, recurring injuries, including two anterior cruciate ligament tears, raise some concerns about his physical readiness.

The young defender at Nürnberg is set to move to VfB Stuttgart in January 2025, and he quickly established himself despite his young age. During last season, he played nearly 2500 minutes, while the current season has seen him participate in most of the available minutes, and he made his debut in the Champions League.

Jeltsch plays with his right foot and usually occupies the right centre-back position, standing at 188 centimetres tall. He is distinguished by his ability to handle the ball and bring it out from the back, with his ball control and vision on the pitch being among his strongest points, along with a good ability to deliver long passes.