Klopp Ready to Overhaul Madrid: Lunin Exit and €260m Spending Plan Revealed

Jurgen Klopp could be heading back into management at Real Madrid this summer, and if he does, Andriy Lunin's days at the Bernabéu appear numbered.

The German tactician, who has held the role of Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer since January 2025, is being lined up as Florentino Perez's prime candidate to replace Álvaro Arbeloa following a trophy-less campaign. Madrid's hierarchy is expected to approach Klopp at the season's end, with the 58-year-old reportedly willing to return to the dugout.

According to Spanish media reports, Klopp has already made his opening demand clear: shift Lunin on and bring in Freiburg's Noah Atubolu as his replacement. The backup keeper does not feature in Klopp's thinking for the project ahead, with the manager keen to secure a more commanding presence to eventually succeed Thibaut Courtois.

Atubolu, widely regarded as one of the Bundesliga's standout stoppers, fits the bill perfectly for what Klopp has in mind.

The incoming boss's ambitions extend well beyond the goalkeeping department. Reports emerging from Spain suggest Klopp is demanding five fresh recruits to overhaul the squad, a package that could run to approximately €260 million. Beyond Atubolu, he is chasing Manchester City's Rodri and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister to revamp the midfield. Borussia Dortmund's centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz complete his wish list.

That said, not everyone at the club is convinced. Kylian Mbappé is understood to prefer Mauricio Pochettino for the job, though such preferences may carry little weight given that Klopp has been branded 'the chosen one' by Madrid's decision-makers.

Arbeloa's sacking appears a formality following Madrid's Champions League exit to Bayern Munich. Perez is a long-standing admirer of Pochettino, but other names in the frame include Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps. Zidane, however, is eyeing the French national team job, while Deschamps will become available after the World Cup—a scenario that could prompt Madrid to come calling.