Stay or Go? Deciding Which Players Real Madrid Should Keep & Offload This Summer

It might not feel that way if your name is Raphael Varane, but the future is looking somewhat bright at Real Madrid.

Having ended an agonising wait of a whole two seasons for a La Liga title, Los Blancos now look well clear of a chaotic Barcelona outfit, and could be set to dominate Spanish football for many years with a young, promising squad still developing under the watchful eye of Zinedine Zidane.

But Zidane is not one to rest on his laurels, and after a disappointing European exit he'll be hungry to do next season what no manager has ever done before - win a fourth Champions League trophy. Here's a look at the first-team he's currently working with, and which players need to stay or go to achieve this aim...

Goalkeepers

Thibaut Courtois (STAY) - Love him or hate him, the Belgian has ironed out many of the mistakes which overshadowed his first season in Madrid, and will remain the Champions' first-choice keeper.

Alphonse Areola (GO) - The on-loan PSG goalkeeper has appeared sparingly in Real Madrid colours, and is unlikely to extend his stay in Spain.

Andriy Lunin (STAY) - The exciting young Ukrainian goalkeeper is eager to fight for a place at Real, and may well end up as Thibaut Courtois' understudy.

Centre Backs

Sergio Ramos (STAY) - You didn't think he was going anywhere, did you? Mr Real Madrid, the second top-scorer for Los Blancos this season, will no doubt be hoping to retire at the club where he has won everything.

Raphael Varane (STAY) - To say that his error-strewn performance against Manchester City was an outlier would be an understatement. Another centre-back who will 100% be around to challenge for honours next season.

Éder Militão (STAY) - His debut season hasn't been easy, but Real Madrid would be foolish to cut their losses on such a talented player after just one season. He will be eager to break Ramos and Varane's partnership in the upcoming campaign.

Nacho (STAY) - Certainly not the most glamorous name associated with Real Madrid, but a reliable one-club man who provides the team with valuable depth. Unlikely to move anywhere this summer.

Full Backs

Ferland Mendy (STAY) - One of Madrid's standout players, Mendy has unseated Marcelo as Real Madrid's first-choice left-back, offering a more defensively stable presence than his Brazilian counterpart does.

Marcelo (STAY) - Could it be the end of the line for one of Madrid's most iconic players? Well, not quite. The Brazilian will be eager to show he can still perform to the standards of a modern left-back, and doesn't appear to be going anywhere.

Dani Carvajal (STAY) - The electric young pretender Achraf Hakimi could well have been preferred next season, but the steadier Carvajal won out. With Hakimi now at Inter, the Spaniard is likely to spend another season as first-choice for Real.

Álvaro Odriozola (STAY) - With a lack of cover or even competition for Carvajal, Odriozola's stay in the cold may well be ended next season as he returns from a frustrating loan spell at Bayern Munich.

Sergio Reguilón (GO) - Reguilón has been one of the best-performing left-backs in La Liga on loan at Sevilla, but he is unlikely to challenge either Marcelo or Mendy. Amidst reported interest from Chelsea, Madrid may try and move him on this window.

Central Midfielders

Toni Kroos (STAY) - As with Ramos, Kroos is essential to Real Madrid's modern identity, and the thought of the metronomic German midfielder leaving any time soon is just laughable.

Casemiro (STAY) - Another who had a hard time in the Manchester City game, but that won't put Zidane off one of his most trusted lieutenants. Expect to see him prowling in front of the Real back four for years to come.

Fede Valverde (STAY) - He 'won' Madrid the Supercopa de España after chopping down a clean-through Álvaro Morata with a challenge that could only be described as 'agricultural', and the tenacious youngster is developing into an important cog in Zidane's squad.

Luka Modrić (STAY) - This will almost certainly be the Croatian genius' final season at Madrid, with his contract set to expire in 2021. Will a club as ruthless as Madrid dare to offer him an extension? Stranger things have happened...

Dani Ceballos (GO) - Zidane isn't particularly bothered about him, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta likes him, Ceballos is keen on a move, the reported £23m asking price is pretty doable... easy as.

Attacking Midfielders

Isco (STAY) - One of Zidane's favourites and arguably one of the best rotation players in the world, it's hard to see Isco leaving unless a lucrative offer comes rolling in.

Eden Hazard (STAY) - Weight fluctuation, injury problems... Hazard hasn't been at his best just yet, but it's surely only a matter of time until he hits the ground running for Zidane's men.

James Rodríguez (GO) - A steady enough player, but one who has never quite been able to roll back the years to that special, special 2014 World Cup. With Arsenal said to be circling, he might finally make the leap to the Premier League.

Martin Ødegaard (LOAN) - Far from suffering the same fate as Freddy Adu, the former wonderkid is now a wonderman after an impressive season on loan at Real Sociedad, where he will likely spend another season.

Forwards

Karim Benzema (STAY) - Might as well get this one out of the way - Madrid's standout player of this campaign will continue his journey at the club.

Gareth Bale (GO) - While we're at it, let's get this one done too. The golf-loving Welshman needs to leave for the good of all concerned. Is this practical? His astronomical wage demands and lack of desire to force a move would probably say no.

Luka Jović (GO) - Zidane hasn't been particularly impressed with the Serbian, and that usually spells trouble at Madrid. Will be coveted by a host of European clubs looking for a striker.

Marco Asensio (STAY) - After tearing his ACL last year, the Spaniard has recovered commendably, and will be looking to kick on under a manager who favours him in Zidane.

Lucas Vázquez (GO) - While the utility man has shown a willingness to play a wing-back role to increase his chances of staying at the club, Madrid's current embarrassment of riches in his position may force him out.

Vinícius Júnior (STAY) - He settled El Clasico for Madrid this season, and is looking increasingly comfortable on the left. Madrid fans will be excited to see what he can do next season.

Rodrygo (STAY) - Similarly, the only way is up for yet another exciting Brazilian prospect, who showed his precocity against Manchester City by embarrassing João Cancelo to set up Benzema.

Mariano Díaz (GO) - Madrid need a backup striker for Benzema, but Mariano is probably not that man.