Real Madrid News
Real Madrid scouting 22-year-old German striker
There are two schools of thought regarding the future of Karim Benzema at Real Madrid. While some believe that the club must begin looking for long-term replacements, others feel that the Frenchman has at least two seasons left at the top level and that Madrid need not rush.
According to reports from Ekrem Konur, Real Madrid are scouting 22-year-old Mainz striker Jonathan Burkardt, considering signing the youngster.
Carlo Ancelotti has communicated to Mariano Diaz that he does not count on him, and the future of Borja Mayoral is not clear too. Evidently, there is an urgent need for a reliable backup option that can also serve in the long term.
Burkardt began his career in the academy of Mainz before he eventually received a call-up to the first team in 2018. In the past four years with the Bundesliga side, he gradually became an undisputed starter.
Last season, the 22-year-old made 34 appearances for Mainz, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in the process. With every passing season, his goalscoring tally has only gone up.
The centre-forward’s contract lasts until 2024, after which he will be available to sign on a free transfer. If the club want to sign him this summer, however, he will not come cheap.
Burkardt’s signing is undoubtedly a gamble, but one that could pay off large dividends if it succeeds.
If not the youngster, Ancelotti could also look to swoop Timo Werner from Chelsea. The London-based club offered the German’s services to Los Blancos earlier today, but it remains as to what Florentino Perez has in his mind.
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.
