Real Madrid eyeing Harry Kane to replace Karim Benzema – sources

Sources said the England captain, who has scored 32 goals this season, has the right profile to play for Madrid, but there are question marks over his age, his transfer fee and Spurs’ reluctance to let their marquee player leave.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, and more (US)

Madrid had planned to sign a backup forward such as Espanyol’s Joselu to act as a replacement for Benzema.

Club sources are reluctant to talk openly about their interest in signing Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, but few are willing to admit that a move for one of the two is planned for 2024, when Benzema’s time at Madrid comes to an end. .

Benzema’s shock decision to leave Madrid this month, accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, has now forced the club to alter their plans to ensure they have the quality in attack next season.

Madrid have come close to signing Joselu to replace Mariano, but could fill the void left by Benzema, who scored 31 goals in all competitions despite an uneven campaign. 9 to go now.

The problem facing the club is that there are few options on the market — Hollande and Mbappe will stay at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain for at least another season respectively — who fit the bill.

Both Roberto Firmino, who is available on a free transfer after his contract at Liverpool, and Chelsea’s Guy Howards have been linked with Madrid, but club sources admit that Kane is the only available forward who has consistently scored the required number of goals. year.

Nevertheless, there is doubt within the club about signing the Premier League forward.

Kane turns 30 next month and Madrid’s recent transfer policy has focused on signing talents such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrigo, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelian Choumeni.

Madrid know that landing Kane will require a fee of around €100m and that will have a huge impact on this summer’s budget, with the club already planning to spend heavily on Judd Bellingham to strengthen further. Positions.

Florentino Perez also has experience of tough negotiations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy following the signings of Luka Modric in 2012 and Gareth Bale in 2013.

This means that Madrid are also evaluating other options when considering a move for Cane.

In February, ESPN reported that the LaLiga club were tracking various forwards, including Kane’s Tottenham teammate Richarlison and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, which it believes is already „essential” to bolster the attack, although Benzema is expected to stay on.

The Ballon d’Or winner’s exit comes alongside the departures of three front-runners: Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Mariano.

Joselu — who arrives on loan — and Brahim Diaz, who returns from a loan spell at AC Milan, will be the first to bolster the front line, but they won’t be the last.