Alvaro Arbeloa is closing in on the Fulham manager’s job and has already drawn up a transfer wishlist featuring four players from Real Madrid.
The 43-year-old is set to be appointed as Fulham’s new head coach on a three-year contract, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid’s first team during the second half of last season following the departure of Xabi Alonso from the Bernabeu.
He has since stepped aside to allow Jose Mourinho to return to the club for a second spell, with the Portuguese manager now taking the reins in the Spanish capital.
Rather than returning to his previous role with Real Madrid Castilla, Arbeloa is expected to move into Premier League management for the first time with Fulham.
According to Marca, Arbeloa is keen on signing four young Real Madrid players he worked closely with during his time in charge: César Palacios, Manuel Ángel, Thiago Pitarch, and Jorge Cestero.
Pitarch was arguably the player Arbeloa relied on most heavily, with the 18-year-old making 16 appearances across all competitions under the former Liverpool defender.
Palacios and Manuel Ángel both made seven first-team appearances under Arbeloa, while Cestero featured five times, demonstrating the manager’s clear confidence in all four players.
Arbeloa handed each of the four their senior debuts, which explains why he is now eager to bring them with him as he begins his first top-flight managerial role.
César Palacios, aged 22, is also attracting interest from La Liga club Osasuna and Italian side Como, who could offer him the additional incentive of Champions League football next season.
Manuel Ángel has a contract at the Bernabeu running until the summer of 2027 but is expected to be allowed to leave Madrid ahead of next season, potentially on loan.
With all four players aged between 18 and 22, regular first-team opportunities at Real Madrid under Mourinho would likely be difficult to come by.
Fulham have been searching for a replacement for Marco Silva, who departed at the end of his contract before joining Benfica as their new manager.
The appointment of Arbeloa would represent an ambitious and somewhat unconventional move by the west London club as they look to build on recent Premier League stability.
