Following two winless matches, Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid are under pressure to get things back on track when they return to action after the international break.
First on the agenda for Los Blancos post the international window is a trip to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, where they will face off against Elche CF.
Apart from securing a victory, it appears that Real Madrid will have another key objective on their trip to Elche.
Indeed, according to Defensa Central, Real Madrids sporting department will have the opportunity to hold discussions with Elche regarding Rodrigo Mendoza, who has been closely monitored by Juni Calafat.
The 20-year-old Mendoza has been one of the standout performers for Elche this season and has attracted interest from Real Madrid and several other top clubs.
Rodrigo Mendoza (L) is a target for Real Madrid. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
The attacking midfielder had been on the Merengues radars last summer as well, as a possible reinforcement for Castilla, but nothing came of it.
With interest in him revived, the Spanish capital giants will look to take advantage of the trip to Elche to get things moving.
As per the report, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and CEO Jose Angel Sanchez plan to open initial talks, with the intention of eventually reaching an agreement for the midfielder in the future.
Elche, for the moment, do not want to part with the youngster, which explains why the club rejected a 20 million offer last summer. However, the reality is that the midfielder is excited by the idea of moving to the Santiago Bernabeu.
For now, the idea is to start initial talks and set the ball rolling so that Real Madrid can have an advantage over Mendozas other suitors.