Keep, loan or sell? The players Real Madrid should allow to leave in the 2023 summer transfer window

Madrid's summer is going to be defined by who they bring in, and a sneakily important one could be Milan loanee Diaz. The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a successful two years in Italy, becoming a key part of the Rossoneri's 2021-22 Scudetto-winning side.

But turbulence in Milan makes a permanent deal difficult, while the midfielder could add something different to a predictable Madrid. Los Blancos have been needing a punch of creativity between the lines for a while now, and will further need it with Benzema gone. Once an outcast, Diaz could be a key player next year.

Mendy's situation is a tough one. He was reliable in Madrid's 2022 Champions League run, and kept Mohamed Salah relatively quiet in the final, but his fortunes have changed since then.

He was shaky in the first half of last season, and then hit by a series of injuries after the World Cup. A miserable showing against Villarreal in January, when he was directly responsible for two goals before being run ragged by Samuel Chukwueze, was the low point of his Madrid career thus far.

Since then, Madrid have pursued re-signing former youth product Fran Garcia, making it very clear where their priorities lie at the position.

This shouldn't really be a question, but the pressures of wearing Madrid white have put the France midfielder's future in doubt. In replacing club legend Casemiro, Tchouameni was effectively handed an impossible job, though when Madrid were winning, he was dubbed a perfect signing.

But when things went wrong, fingers were quickly pointed at the 23-year-old. Tchouameni hasn't been a regular since January, and his position, once guaranteed, is under threat. Still, he's got bags of potential. He's not one to get rid of — not yet, at least.

In a ruthless world, Nacho is an easy one to let go. He's been a terrific servant to the club, but he's well beyond 30, and will probably be better off seeking more consistent playing time elsewhere. The Spain international has been linked with Inter, but plenty of clubs will be after his signature.

There are signs, too, that Ancelotti is already preparing for a future without the defender. He has experimented with both Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger at full-back positions, and also has David Alaba as an option. With Benzema to replace and a few other players needed, Nacho seems to be a fairly simple sacrifice, even if it seems like Madrid themselves are keen to keep him.

With Bellingham's signing seemingly imminent and a Diaz return on the cards, there appears to be something of a log-jam among right-sided attacking midfielders. Valverde, then, could be among those to go.

There are scattered reports that various clubs are interested, and Liverpool were supposedly weighing up a deal at the end of the 2022 summer transfer window.

And there is some sense here. Valverde had a poor second half of the season and would fetch a handsome return. But he's also the future of this midfield, and will be a key player once Luka Modric and Toni Kroos leave. Valverde might be frustrating every now and then, but he's worth hanging on to.

Ceballos elected to return to Madrid and fight for his place this season. However, his decision yielded mixed results. He enjoyed an excellent run of form from late January until the end of February, but once Modric and Kroos found form again, he was relegated to a peripheral role.

Whether he wants to have another crack at the starting line-up remains to be seen. Bellingham's arrival and Tchouameni's expected improvement will surely make things more difficult, while a few other clubs are reportedly interested in his services. A departure may be better for his career.

Vazquez is reliable, and that's pretty much it. The 31-year-old doesn't offer anything groundbreaking or drastically change the way Los Blancos play. Instead, he can put in a shift, and allow bigger names to rest. For that alone, he is worth holding on to.

And even if Madrid wanted to sell, there's not much value to be found in an ageing right-back with just a year left on his contract. Hang onto him for now, and bid a fond farewell next summer.