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.
Real Madrid have officially announced the first departure of the 2022/23 season as Marco Asensio leaves the club on a free transfer. The Spaniard was part of the Madrid setup for eight years, and leaves with three Champions Leagues and La Ligas to his name.
With Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Eden Hazard in the team, Asensio was the only winger in the team who preferred to play on the right rather than on the left. His left-footedness was also crucial for this.
Madrid will now have to assess the market for replacements, even though they will be handed one themselves in the summer in the form of Brahim Diaz. The Spaniard finishes his loan spell at AC Milan in the summer, and will return to Madrid.
Madrid will have to make a final call on his future, but as of now, are ready to discuss a new long-term deal for and with Diaz, as per a report published by Fabrizio Romano. The extension will be valid until 2027.
Diaz, now 23, initially joined Real Madrid from Manchester City in 2019, completing a €18 million move in the search of game-time. Six appearances in six months later, though, he moved to AC Milan on loan, and has been there since.
However, getting him to stay at Madrid will be difficult, as the player evidently wants to continue at Milan for the foreseeable future. He even suggested his desire to continue in a recent interview.
“I’m happy here at Milan. I feel very good at this club, then I don’t know what is going to happen. I kissed the badge because that’s what I felt at that moment,” he said.
They want him to replace Asensio at the Santiago Bernabeu, but will not force him to stay if he wants to leave.
