France's Kylian Mbappe (center) challenges for the ball during the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between France and Greece at the Stade de France, outside Paris, on June 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

MADRID - Any preview of Real Madrid looking ahead to the new season has to take into account the seemingly never-ending story of the club's pursuit of French star Kylian Mbappe and if they are finally able to get the man who appears to be in open conflict with Paris Saint Germain this summer.

However, as things stand just days before the new campaign, Mbappe remains a dream and Real Madrid will at least start the season without him, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti, to slightly tweak last season's game plan.

In the closing weeks of last season, it looked as if the club was going to see an exodus of players, with Nacho Fernandez, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Mariano Diaz all still to sign new contracts.

Real Madrid will also see changes in midfield, with the club splashing out over 100 million euros to sign England international Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. A supremely gifted and intelligent player, Bellingham offers box-to-box energy, vision and goals and Madrid will want him to lead their midfield for years to come

Nacho and Ceballos did eventually put pen to paper, while Diaz and Asensio left the club, along with Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema, who got an offer he couldn't refuse to play in Saudi Arabia.

While Hazard and Diaz won't be missed, Benzema and Asensio will be. Benzema's goals and link-up play have been so important to Real Madrid in recent seasons, while Asensio had a knack of scoring vital goals when things looked difficult.

Joselu has come into the squad from Espanyol and the player who began his career in the Madrid youth system is an excellent penalty area finisher, although he doesn't offer the linkup play of either Asensio or Benzema.

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Young Turkish forward Arda Guler looks an interesting signing, but the 18-year-old will miss the first two months of the campaign through injury.

That means Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo will have to provide a lot of goals and the indications are that they can do that, with Vinicius netting 23 times last time around and Rodrygo 19, and their pace will be one of Madrid's main attacking threats.

Real Madrid will also see changes in midfield, with the club splashing out over 100 million euros to sign England international Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. A supremely gifted and intelligent player, Bellingham offers box-to-box energy, vision and goals and Madrid will want him to lead their midfield for years to come.

Fede Valverde also provides drive from the middle of the park, while Eduardo Camavinga improved his all-round game last season and also showed he can cover at left back.

The club needs Aurelian Tchouameni to improve on a slightly disappointing debut campaign, but if he can produce his best football, a midfield of Bellingham, Tchouameni and Camavinga should improve a massive challenge to rivals. It would also have the effect of relegating veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to supporting roles, with their experience used in the closing minutes of matches, rather than at the start.

Elsewhere, Thibaut Courtois remains a guarantee in goal, behind a defense that has only seen one change from last season, with left back Fran Garcia coming in from Rayo Vallecano.

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Eder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger should deal with most La Liga attacks, with Nacho able to cover across the back four. Perhaps the only weakness is right back Dani Carvajal, who is looking increasingly slow and forced to resort to fouls in order to stop pacier rivals.

On paper, Real Madrid looks very solid at the start of Carlo Ancelotti's last year as coach, but an injury to Vinicius or Rodrygo could leave them light in attack - unless of course they haven't finished their transfer business.