Real Madrid News
Real Madrid tracking 14-goal Bundesliga striker, asking price makes move difficult
Within the coming days, Real Madrid are expected to announce the contract extension of Karim Benzema, along with two veteran midfielders in Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
But despite the continuity of Benzema, there is a clear intention from the Real Madrid board to go after a striker this summer. The club have been linked with various strikers across Europe, including Dusan Vlahovic and Richarlison.
According to Diario AS, one of the players Real Madrid are keeping tabs on is Randal Kolo Muani. The Eintracht Frankfurt starlet has emerged as one of the best performers in the Bundesliga this season after joining from Nantes last summer.
In 31 league matches, Muani has racked up 14 goals and 13 assists – making him one of the most productive players in the German top-flight.
Muani has also scored six goals in the DFB Pokal, helping Eintracht secure a spot in the final, where they will take on RB Leipzig. He was also part of the French team that reached the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup last year.
The Frenchman is a versatile striker, who can operate as a winger if necessary. He can offer both productivity and creativity in the final third, which should make him a valuable asset for coach Carlo Ancelotti.
However, luring Kolo Muani to Madrid could be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The striker has a contract until 2027, with Eintracht valuing him at around €65 million.
With Real Madrid likely to go after either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland in 2024, it is unlikely they would want to spend such a fortune on Kolo Muani, knowing he may eventually fall behind in the pecking order.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
