Real Madrid News
Real Madrid competing with Barcelona, Atletico and three more clubs for Salzburg striker
The most dramatic and hyped transfers of any window often involve strikers. It is not surprising that the forwards get as much importance as they do, for their success often translates directly into the team’s success.
A large part of Real Madrid’s success last season can be attributed to Karim Benzema’s imperious form. With the Frenchman now at 34, the club are looking far and wide for a potent replacement.
According to reports from Diario AS, a new star striker has risen in the Bundesliga, and Real Madrid are interested in signing him. Benjamin Sesko, the youngster from RB Salzburg, is grabbing eyes from across Europe and the queue to sign him will be long.
The interest in Sesko ramped up last week after his dominant performance against Liverpool that included a goal. Five clubs have conveyed their interest in the 19-year-old star, who will make his decision next week.
Manchester United and Chelsea are the frontrunners to sign the Slovenian and have firmly communicated their interest to Salzburg. Meanwhile, PSG recently entered the race and are on the list of his five potential destinations.
In Spain, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have all maintained tabs on the player. However, it is only Los Blancos who hold a strong interest in his signing at the moment.
Last season, Sesko played 24 league games for RB Salzburg, scoring five goals and providing one assist. In the current season of the Austrian Bundesliga, he already has one goal and an assist in two games.
There is no way back for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid. The Belgian international has not given the management any reason to have faith in his abilities over his past four seasons at the club and is unsurprisingly the most important departure for the Merengues in the summer.
Hazard has one more year on his contract in Madrid. However, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti does not trust him and that any potential replacement manager in the summer will echo his stance.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are willing to go all out to sign Hazard this summer. The Turkish side have made the former Chelsea their prime target, yet face a steep task ahead of them.
The 32-year-old is hellbent on seeing out his contract with Los Blancos despite seeing his career sink right before his eyes. It thus becomes complicated for the party to lure away the forward, especially in a competition outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Fenerbahce attempted to sign the winger in the recently concluded winter transfer market. They reached an agreement with Real Madrid but failed to get over the line as they could not convince the player of the move.
The biggest obstacle for the Turkish side will be convincing Hazard to make the move by letting go of his lucrative contract in Madrid. The chances are slim, but not impossible.
Hazard has made just three league appearances and one start for Ancelotti’s side this season in La Liga, a steep fall from last season’s 18 and seven respectively.
His last appearance for the team came back in January when Real Madrid faced Cacereno in the Copa del Rey. In La Liga however, he last played in September 2022 in a 4-1 win over Mallorca.
