Real Madrid should re-sign Mario Hermoso if they are to do business in the January transfer market.
That’s the verdict of Nacho Fernandez.
Real Madrid have conceded 14 goals in just 11 La Liga matches so far this season compared to just nine last term.
That has seen them linked with a host of defenders for the upcoming winter window including Marc Barta, Kalidou Koulibaly and Alfonso Pedraza.
But Nacho would prefer Los Blancos bring Hermoso back to the club. The 23-year-old came through the ranks at the Bernabeu without making a single first-team appearance for Madrid.
He joined Espanyol last year and has been a major part of the Catalan club’s success this season - featuring in all 11 of their La Liga games with Hermoso and co. sat second.
AS recently claimed that Real Madrid have a bargain buy-back clause of €7.5million (£6.5m) that would allow them to bring the centre-half back to the club at a fraction of his reported €32.5m (£28.3m) release clause.
And asking about potential incoming transfers, Nacho says he would like to see the European champions activate the former Spain under-19 international’s clause.
"We are used names being mentioned all year long," he said to reporters.
"If someone has to come, I hope it's Mario Hermoso."
Real take on Viktoria Plzen tonight (8pm) in Santiago Solari’s third game as interim boss after a 4-0 win over Melilla and a 2-0 defeat of Real Valladolid.
Nacho added: "We are getting our confidence back little by little, it isn't easy when this team doesn't win.
"Wednesday's match is very important for us. It's never easy to change trainer, but Solari is one of us and he's started on the right foot "
"He's our coach right now and we are going to give everything "
"In this first week he's had an impact on regaining confidence after a streak, which let's be honest, was bad "
"For me, Lopetegui was a great coach, surely one of the best I've had, and I'm sure he will do well wherever he goes "
Meanwhile, asked recently about a potential Madrid return, Hermoso told Spanish newspaper Marca: "I am very happy and content at Espanyol. This club called me and gave me an opportunity to play in the first division and to fulfil my dream "
"My club is Real Club Deportivo Espanyol. I am focussing on the present. Nothing that isn't to do with Espanyol is currently passing through my head "
"Nobody knows what will happen in the future, but I'm thinking about giving everything for my current club "
"I have signed on for three seasons and I hope to be important here."