Real Madrid 'closing in' on €50m Porto defender | OneFootball

Spanish giants Real Madrid are reportedly close to signing centre-back Éder Militão.

According to Marca, Madrid have been scouting the Brazilian and have decided to make their move.

Militão, who turns 21 on Friday, only joined Porto from São Paulo in the summer but has already impressed clubs around Europe.

As well as 14 Liga NOS starts, he has played five times in the Champions League this season, helping Porto top their group undefeated.

Barcelona and Manchester United have shown interest in the defender but the report says Madrid have won the race to sign him but won’t do so until the summer.

There is a €50m release clause in the defender’s Porto contract, but that will go up to €75m midway through July.

With Sergio Ramos turning 33 before the end of the season, Madrid will be forced to look to their future in defence sooner rather than later.

There were high hopes for academy graduate Jesús Vallejo but the 22-year-old is injured once again.

Vallejo has now missed over 60 games in the last four years and the club will be reluctant to count on the 22-year-old going forward despite rating him highly.