Real Madrid Transfers: 12 Candidates to Be the Galacticos' Next Big Signing

It is always interesting find out who will be the newest Real Madrid signing.

While Florentino Perez has been the president of Real Madrid, money has been no object when signing new players. You could argue that some players are worth it, but more often than not the money is spent quite frivolously.

At this point in World Football, there is no need for Real Madrid to sign any new players. Los Merengues could put out two teams that would be able to defeat most of their opponents. That doesn't stop the rumours from coming though.

There are certainly a great variety of players that Real Madrid could sign in the near future, but the players on this list would be big signings because of their status, price and talent.

Real Madrid is capable of pulling off a really big signing at any moment, so here is a list of 12 candidates who could be the Galacticos' next big one.

Los Merengues haven't seemed to be that interested in signing Hulk in recent times. However, he is an excellent candidate to be a new Galactico.

Porto's president, Pinto da Costa, was adamant during the summer that his star players would not be sold for a penny less than their release clause. The price for Hulk is a massive £87 million.

Hulk has recently stated that his time to leave Porto may soon come and—though he mentioned the idea of Arab sheiks coming to pay the enormous transfer fee—one could count on a Mr. Florentino Perez having his say in the matter.

There is not much else to be said about the Neymar saga. At one point, it was reported he was set to join Real Madrid in the near future.

That is obviously not the case at the moment, but there is time still for that to change. It may very well be that Santos and Neymar hold out until 2014, but it could just as easily not happen that way.

The added spice to this saga is that Real Madrid would be beating out eternal rivals Barcelona to get the Brazilian phenom's signature. There is no doubt Neymar would be big signing for Real Madrid if he is the next one in line.

Eden Hazard has numerous clubs on his tail, and the Lille administration has done a good job so far of keeping hold of their young star.

Hazard is likely to cost a significant transfer fee, and that fee could rise if a bidding war takes place between all those interested. If multiple teams were to bid for him in the same transfer window, Real Madrid would be one of the favourites to get that signature.

Hazard's future lies away from France, and his talent and potential are not in question. Real Madrid would be very willing to pay the price for a future star.

AC Milan seems to be Carlos Tevez's main suitor at the moment, but until that is official others can swoop in. Real Madrid has not shied away from buying a controversial player in the past—Antonio Cassano comes to mind—so Tevez could be an option.

Tevez would give Milan a third top-notch forward and another weapon for Jose Mourinho to throw at Barcelona. Manchester are not willing to let Tevez go cheaply, so Real Madrid's financial power would again be put to work.

If you add that price to the possibility of a Real Madrid transfer ending his Manchester City days, then you have a very big signing indeed.

Yann M'Vila has been linked with Real Madrid so far this season, and he does seem a likely option. While Nuri Sahin has already been brought in to replace Xabi Alonso when his time ends, Yann M'Vila would be a wonderful replacement for some other Madrid midfielders.

Whether or not it happens, Sami Khedira and Lassana Diarra are the most likely midfielders to leave Madrid at some point. If so, M'Vila would be a solid replacement for either.

Signing him would not be easy considering the quality of the other clubs that are interested, but Real Madrid can make it happen.

As an Arsenal fan, I am not really sure why I put Robin Van Persie on this list. Oh, yes, that's right, his contract situation. If something special does not happen on the field for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger cannot get through to the flying Dutchman, summer may be a nail-biting time for Arsenal fans.

I am not trying to say Van Persie is looking for a way out by delaying his contract talks. It's just plainly simple that if summer comes around without an agreement, teams like Real Madrid will be looking to make an offer.

Of course Real Madrid would not be the only suitors, but they are always favourites. Robin Van Persie would certainly be a very big signing for Los Merengues.

Frank Lampard is definitely a surprising name on this or any other Real Madrid list, but he is here. Lampard has recently been linked with Real Madrid in a supposed player swap deal.

While most other players on this list are younger, age is not the factor here. Lampard still has some talent and would obviously come at some cost to Real Madrid.

Mourinho has already picked up one of his former Chelsea players over the age of 30 in the form of Ricardo Carvalho and may do the same for Lampard. Just the idea of Lampard leaving Chelsea to go to Spain—even it is to play for Madrid—makes this a big signing.

While Neymar continues to get most of the hype, Lucas Moura is another young Brazilian phenom who Real Madrid could sign.

Lucas has been linked with the Spanish club and could actually be an easier target for Real Madrid. He does not have the hype surrounding him at the moment but if any big European club were to sign him, it would certainly turn heads.

It has been a long while since Real Madrid produced a quality defender on its own. That would continue if they were to seek the services of Nemanja Vidic.

Vidic is currently the Manchester United captain and would come at a considerable cost to Los Merengues. The fact that Vidic is out for the season may drive the price down a little, but Real Madrid would still have to pay a good amount.

Real Madrid would be signing one of the top defenders in the game and would be one step closer to that elusive goal of beating Barcelona.

Nigel De Jong used to be one of the main starters for Manchester City, but now he has taken more of a supporting role. He still gets ample playing time, but it could begin to wear on him.

Though his prospects might not be any different at Real Madrid, the allure of playing in that white jersey could very well appeal to the Dutch enforcer.

De Jong would not come at a cheap price as Manchester City would want to get their finances in order with one eye on the soon to be implemented Financial Fair Play.

Didier Drogba falls into the same category as Frank Lampard and Ricardo Carvalho. One of Jose Mourinho's old players who still has talent and, considering his age, would cost a decent sum.

While Drogba's departure from Chelsea may not be as mind-boggling as Frank Lampard's, at least to some, it would still be a huge deal and quite a big signing.

In a team that currently has no African representation, signing Drogba would add some more African fans to Real Madrid's fan base.

Seeing a trend here? Maicon is another former Jose Mourinho player who could join the club—at a decent cost—and revitalize his career for a couple years.

The Maicon-to-Real-Madrid talk has died down quite a bit in recent times, but it is still a possibility. Sergio Ramos has been exceptional in central defense and when he returns from injury that could be his spot for the rest of the season and beyond.

Alvaro Arbeloa is a pretty good right-back option, but Maicon could become the man were he to sign for Madrid. Maicon is still a candidate to be Real Madrid's newest big signing.