Real Madrid is still embroiled in the fight to find forwards to replace the unexpected departure of Karim Benzema to Arabia. The white club’s plan was to renew the French striker for one season and, before Mariano said goodbye, incorporate Joselu Mato, the national top scorer with 16 goals, as a substitute for Benzema. Once without Benzema, nothing changes regarding the signing of Joselu, 33 years old and a former youth squad for La Fábrica. What is imperative for Florentino Pérez is to bring a nine of guarantees. After probing the market and according to Ancelotti, plan A is to bring in Harry Kane, but the negotiation is proving very difficult, which was to be expected when it comes to negotiating with Tottenham.
Madrid has experience in how Daniel Levy, the strong man of the ‘Spurs’, spends them. Before, he already negotiated with him the signings of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale and the two negotiations simmered, closing the last days of the market.
In the case of Harry Kane, nothing else is expected. The signing offers many doubts in the White House. He is a proven player, the captain of the English team, but he turns 30 on July 28 and Tottenham asks for 130 million, a figure that Madrid considers out of market for a footballer who ends his contract and is free on June 30, 2024.
Sources from Madrid assure that the whites would be willing to pay an amount closer to 80 million. They could go a little higher with variable incentives, but not much more. The ball is in the forward of Tottenham, who has already rejected a similar amount offered by Manchester United for his player.
Madrid is not obsessed with the signing of Kane. In recent weeks he has also set his sights on Roberto Firmino, Liverpool’s Brazilian striker who has left Anfield. In the last few hours, Sadio Mané, who leaves Bayern and could reach the Bernabéu for 30 million, has been offered. The Senegalese is not a normal 9, rather a wing player, which would force Rodrygo to play nine.
What is clear is that Madrid hopes to make Joselu Mato’s return official before Tuesday. The Galician is in the Netherlands with the Spanish team playing in the League of Nations. Today he spoke at a press conference and said that he was calling on Madrid to speak next Tuesday.
Joselu will be Madrid’s fourth addition this summer after Fran García, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham. In the next few hours, the whites are expected to announce the renewals of Modric, Kroos and Nacho. Dani Ceballos is still in doubt, but it is believed that he will renew. In the chapter on starts and after those of Benzema, Mariano, Hazard and Asensio, those of Odriozola and perhaps Vallejo are expected.
