Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Real Madrid are ready to enter the January transfer market in search of a defender.
The upcoming window could pit Los Blancos against Tottenham in the hunt for a centre-back after a serious knee injury ruled David Alaba out for the season.
The Austrian joins Eder Militao in almost certainly missing the second half of the campaign, leaving just Nacho Fernandez and Antonio Rudiger as Real's only fit central defenders.
That could prompt Ancelotti into a new signing this winter.
"We have spoken with the club, we will evaluate it in the coming days," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"We have time to do it because the market ends on January 31 and we are to look for the best possible solution. At the moment, we are in no hurry. This is not the time to name names.
"If there is the possibility of signing a player who is good for the club, we will do it."
Spurs are known to be keen on landing a centre-back with Nice star Jean-Claire Todibo high on their wish list. The likes of Liverpool and Manchester United have also been linked with the Frenchman.
Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and Genoa’s Radu Dragusin have likewise been named as potential targets after Ange Postecoglou made his desires clear.
Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been tipped to fill in for the defence, along with academy players such as Alvaro Carrillo, but Ancelotti has outlined his hesitancy at deploying temporary solutions.
"Tchouameni doesn't want to play as a centre-back just like [Eduardo] Camavinga doesn't want to play as a full-back," said the Italian.
"But he knows that if there is an emergency he will play as a centre-back."
