Real Madrid are chasing their seventh straight La Liga win and a fourth under Álvaro Arbeloa, but the road ahead isn’t easy.

They're still trying to catch up to Barcelona at the top, and Sunday's away game at Valencia suddenly feels even bigger. After falling short in the Supercopa de España, Copa del Rey, and Champions League, La Liga means more than ever right now.

Madrid usually does well against Valencia, but Arbeloa’s got a headache this week. The injury list just keeps growing, and a few of his most important players are missing.

Here’s where things stand on the injury front before Madrid head to the Mestalla.

Jude Bellingham

He picked up a hamstring injury just 10 minutes into the wild 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and had to come off right away. The word is he’s out for about a month, so he’ll miss both Champions League playoff games against Benfica.

Éder Militão

Éder Militão just can’t catch a break. He’s back on the sidelines with another serious hamstring injury after barely playing in the last two years. At this point, he probably won’t return until late in the season.

Rodrygo

Rodrygo came on as a sub against Rayo Vallecano, then left with a hamstring problem himself. He’s out of the Valencia game and will be missing for about 10 days. Since he’s already suspended for the Benfica first leg, he won’t see much of the pitch this month.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Another defender, another injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been out for two months with a thigh problem, but he’s finally close to returning. He could make the squad for Valencia—though if he plays, expect him to come off the bench.

Antonio Rüdiger

Rüdiger has been missing since the Supercopa in Saudi Arabia with a knee injury, but he’s getting closer. There’s a chance he could be back for the trip to Valencia, but, just like Alexander-Arnold, he’d likely start on the bench.

Ferland Mendy

Mendy just can’t stay fit. He’s only managed three games all season, but he’s on the mend from a muscle injury and might be available for Valencia. Whether Arbeloa actually puts him on the field is still up in the air.

Vinicius Junior

At least Vinicius isn’t injured—he’s just suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card last weekend. He’ll be back for the Real Sociedad match on February 14.

Real Madrid need a veteran centre-back this summer, and with the options drying up, they’re circling back to Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté. That’s what the latest reports say, anyway.

Not long ago, Konaté seemed destined for Madrid. He was constantly linked with the club, just like his old teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, and he didn’t extend his contract with Liverpool, so he’s down to his last year, future up in the air.

But that interest fizzled out fast when Konaté stumbled through the start of the 2025–26 season. Suddenly, Madrid wanted nothing to do with him. The rumours said they’d moved on.

Now, things have changed. After a messy winter transfer window where Madrid didn’t manage to sign anyone, ESPN says they’re watching Konaté again. They need someone who can anchor their defence for the next decade.

Madrid’s defence has been a mess for a while. Injuries tore right through the squad—guys like Valverde, Tchouaméni, and Camavinga, who are all midfielders, had to fill in at the back because Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba, and Carvajal kept dropping out.

Last summer, Madrid thought they had fixed things by bringing in Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras. That plan didn’t work out. Alexander-Arnold can’t stay fit—he’s played just 16 games. Huijsen’s first season has been rocky.

Now Alaba’s leaving at the end of the season, Rüdiger might go too, and that leaves just three real centre-backs. Militão’s always hurt, Huijsen’s shaky, and suddenly, Madrid are desperate again. They need another defender, and fast.

But they blew their shot in January. They didn’t act, and now other clubs have picked up the players Madrid wanted.

When Madrid bailed on Konaté in November, they had other options: Marc Guéhi, Dayot Upamecano, and Jérémy Jacquet. Guéhi’s gone to Man City. Jacquet is joining Liverpool next season. Upamecano looks set to sign a new deal at Bayern. Just like that, the list is empty.

So Madrid are back where they started. They might have to bring Konaté in after all. He’s 26, fits right in with Madrid’s French crew, and would link up again with Alexander-Arnold. Even when he’s having a rough game, he’s still an upgrade over what Madrid has now.

Is he their dream signing? Not really, not after the season he’s had—his manager, Arne Slot, even called him out for being “at the crime scene” too often. But he’d come on a free transfer, and he’s got experience, he’s strong, and he’s great in the air. If Konaté can pull himself together in the second half of the season, don’t be surprised if he ends up in Madrid after all.