Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao are both on course to be available before the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Courtois suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury towards the start of August, while Militao was diagnosed with the same problem when he left the field against Athletic Bilbao in the team's campaign opener.
Initially, it had been thought that both players would be missing for the entire 2023-24 campaign due to the complex nature of the recovery process.
However, when asked about Real Madrid's potential plans for the January transfer window during his press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Braga, Ancelotti provided a positive injury update on Courtois and Militao.
"We don't have any plans for the winter market. We should keep in mind that Courtois and Militao will come back. I don't know when, but they'll be back before the end of the season. In the summer, I hope we'll do something," Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday.
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Courtois's blow ahead of the new season led to Real Madrid signing Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season-long loan from Chelsea, with the Spaniard becoming the team's new number one ahead of Andriy Lunin.
Real Madrid did not directly replace Militao, though, with Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Nacho instead largely operating in the middle of the defence this season.
A recent report claims that Los Blancos will not be making any January signings in order to keep the funds available to bring in Kylian Mbappe at the end of the campaign.
Mbappe is widely expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer next summer before completing a long-awaited move to the Spanish capital.
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Ancelotti was also asked about the lack of goals from his first-choice front two this season, with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo only managing five strikes between them in 2023-24.
"We have to be patient, as there are times when a forward scores every they touch and times when they're less effective," the Italian added.
"Rodrygo shoots more than any player in La Liga, so he is moving well and coming close, even if the shot isn't always going in. We've improved a lot in defence so aren't conceding as many, and that means you don't have to score as many."
Jude Bellingham, who is a doubt for the clash with Braga due to a shoulder issue, is the team's leading goalscorer this season with 13 in all competitions.
Meanwhile, on-loan forward Joselu has five in 14 outings since his arrival from Espanyol over the summer.
Matt Law
