What are Real Madrid missing? Real Madrid Eight days left in the transfer window

With just eight days left until the end of the transfer window this summer, Real Madrid still have plenty of doubts and eight clear weaknesses which raise the question: Can this squad compete for titles?

Many things need to change for Zinedine Zidane to be able to challenge for top honours and turn things around having already dropped points at home this season.

1. Goals

Karim Benzema is scoring, but Luka Jovic has already gained the tag of substitute.

Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Isco, Vinicius Junior and Eden Hazard, once fit, must all contribute in order to fill the void of goals left by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The feeling remains that to do that, a superstar like Neymar or Paul Pogba is required to fill the shoes of Real Madrid's greatest ever superstar.

2. Speed

One of the biggest problems that Zidane has found is the speed of Real Madrid's play.

Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric, or occasionally Isco, lack energy and pace and their play is slow and predictable.

With each season that passes they fade and are now barely a shadow of the trio that won three consecutive Champions League titles.

3. Midfielders

Much is said of the lack of goals in this Real Madrid side, but in midfield the shortage is even worse as Zidane's mission of renewing the engine room of his side remains incomplete with the window almost closed.

Casemiro's replacement Marcos Llorente was sold, Kroos and Modric's alternative Dani Ceballos was loaned out and Zidane had given more minutes to Fede Valverde.

Still, he is yet to feature this season and Zidane's wish of signing Pogba looks impossible as the transfer window draws shut.

In the end, Real Madrid's midfield is worse in 2019/20 than it was in 2018/19.

4. Penetration

With Hazard out injured, the weight is on Vinicius' shoulders to break through the lines and disrupt rival defences, but he has been nothing like the exciting threat that broke into the side in 2018/19.

Marco Asensio faces a long-term injury and Isco is out of form, meaning that a player with talent like Neymar is required.

5. Control in both boxes

It's true that you don't have to play well to win games, you just have to be decisive at both ends.

Thibaut Courtois is not Iker Casillas and his record to date has seen a high number of disappointing draws and defeats.

At the other end, the problems in front of goal have already been discussed and proven against Real Valladolid.

6. Options from the bench

Six months and 300 million euros of transfer fees later, Zidane remains unconvinced by the options he has on the bench.

The revolution that everyone was expecting has never materialised.

"Get the ball the f*** out of there," was what he said his team had to do after going 1-0 up against Valladolid, which speaks volumes of the resources at his disposal in a squad which has cost hundreds of millions to assemble.

7. Youth

Vinicius, Asensio, Ceballos, Alvaro Odriozola, Andriy Lunin, Rodrygo Goes, Take Kubo, Jesus Vallejo and Theo Hernandez were signed to rejuvenate the squad but against Valladolid, the line-up barely differed from the team in 2014.

With an average age of 29, even without Modric, it's easy to see why the side is fading without a changing of the guard.

8. World-class signings

More than 300 million euros have been spent but only Hazard gets into the starting line-up.

Ferland Mendy is Marcelo's back-up, the same for Jovic with Benzema and Eder Militao for Raphael Varane and Rodrygo will play for Castilla or be sent on loan.

A big name is required if Real Madrid are to win titles, a name like Neymar or Pogba.