A year ago
Real Madrid activate their plan to sign a striker: who are their options?
Real Madrid is actively pursuing a plan to sign a new striker who can compete with Karim Benzema in the team's frontline. The primary objective behind this move is to have a reliable replacement for Benzema when he is unable to play and to address the potential departure of either Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland in 2024. Despite their interest in Mbappé and Haaland, Real Madrid has been vigilant in monitoring the market and has already conducted extensive research on potential candidates. Among the names that have been analyzed, three players stand out: Dusan Vlahovic, a 23-year-old Serbian forward from Juventus; Harry Kane, the prolific English striker from Tottenham Hotspur; and Gonçalo Ramos, a promising young talent from Benfica.
Both Vlahovic and Ramos perfectly fit the desired profile as they are young and have the potential to score around 30 goals per season across all competitions. Vlahovic, who was purchased by Juventus from Fiorentina for €75 million in 2022, was made available for sale during the winter transfer window, and negotiations with Manchester United were in progress until the player and his agent decided to withdraw from the deal. Interestingly, the proposed European Super League may have a role to play in facilitating a potential transfer between Real Madrid and Juventus, as the two clubs share a desire for the competition and have an excellent relationship.
Harry Kane, on the other hand, presents a different scenario. The English striker has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the past, and with his contract at Tottenham set to expire in 2024, a renewal seems unlikely. Kane's playing style, which involves dropping back and contributing to the build-up play in addition to being a prolific finisher, aligns well with Benzema's approach. However, there is some caution surrounding the signing of British players by Real Madrid, given previous experiences with players like Michael Owen, Jonathan Woodgate, Gareth Bale, and David Beckham. Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham, has set a price tag of €100 million for Kane.
The third option for Real Madrid is Gonçalo Ramos, a talented 21-year-old forward who has enjoyed a remarkable season at Benfica, scoring 18 goals in the league and three goals in the Champions League. However, there are a couple of obstacles in pursuing Ramos. Firstly, Benfica is known for demanding high transfer fees, and secondly, Ramos is represented by Gestifute, the agency owned by Jorge Mendes, who has limited dealings with Real Madrid following Cristiano Ronaldo's abrupt departure.
It's important to note that the signing of a new striker to compete with Benzema will not affect Real Madrid's pursuit of Jude Bellingham. The acquisition of a number 9 and a midfielder, specifically Bellingham, are separate operations and remain the club's top priorities in terms of strengthening the squad for the upcoming season. Additionally, Real Madrid is also looking to bolster the left-back position.
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