MX23RW : Saturday, March 18 11:08:07| >> :120:27088:27088:

Real Madrid 'draw up three-man shortlist of Karim Benzema replacements'

Real Madrid 'draw up three-man shortlist of Karim Benzema replacements'
© Reuters
Real Madrid reportedly earmark Richarlison, Kylian Mbappe and Goncalo Ramos as potential replacements for Karim Benzema, who is out of contract this summer.





WARNING! This article contains strong language and/or content that some readers may prefer to avoid.





Real Madrid have reportedly drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential replacements for long-serving striker Karim Benzema.

The Ballon d'Or winner's future remains unresolved heading into the final three months of his contract, and he could be set to depart on a free transfer at the end of June.

Despite his struggles for fitness this season, Real Madrid have been expected to at least sanction a new short-term contract for Benzema, who remains a consistent threat in the final third when fit.

The ex-France international has 18 goals and five assists in 27 games this season, but he turns 36 in December, and Real are starting to plan for life without their number nine.

According to reports in Spain, Florentino Perez has come up with three ideal successors to Benzema, the first of which is Kylian Mbappe, whom Real tried and failed to sign for a couple of years before he signed a new Paris Saint-Germain deal.

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal on February 19, 2023© Reuters

PSG rejected a £137m offer from Real Madrid for Mbappe at the end of the summer 2021 transfer window, and the French champions were seemingly set to lose the 24-year-old on a free transfer last year.

However, PSG managed to agree a new two-year deal with the option of a third with Mbappe, but he allegedly wanted out again just a few months later, having admitted that he made a mistake by penning fresh terms.

Without activating his 12-month extension, Mbappe is due to become a free agent in the summer of 2024, potentially forcing PSG into a sale at the end of the season as they prepare to offload one of their star forwards.

Meanwhile, Benfica and Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos is also thought to be on Los Blancos' radar, having continued to shine at domestic level since the end of the World Cup.

The 21-year-old memorably scored a hat-trick for Portugal in their last-16 win over Switzerland, and he has an impressive 23 goals and nine assists from 34 games in a Benfica shirt this term.

Benfica's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their third goal on March 7, 2023© Reuters

Ramos's Benfica contract is not due to expire until the end of the 2025-26 season, though, and he is also believed to have attracted the attention of Manchester United.

As well as Mbappe and Ramos, unsettled Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison could be an option for the Spanish and European champions following a whirlwind week for the striker.

Since joining in a £60m deal from Everton in the summer, Richarlison has scored just two goals and set up four more in 26 games for Tottenham, and he is yet to open his Premier League account for the Lilywhites.

After being dropped for Spurs' Champions League last-16 second leg draw with AC Milan, Richarlison hit out at Antonio Conte's decision to demote him and claimed that his first season in North London had been "shit" - a view shared by Conte.

Nevertheless, Richarlison was recalled into the first XI for Saturday's 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest, where he provided an assist for Son Heung-min but also had what would have been his first Premier League goal of the season ruled out for offside.

The 25-year-old - who is also said to be on the radar of Juventus if Dusan Vlahovic leaves - is not due to become a free agent until 2027.

ID:508864:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6895:

Kylian Mbappe future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Karim Benzema

Click here for more stories about Tottenham Hotspur

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring against Al Ahly on February 8, 2023
Read Next:
Real Madrid to sacrifice Vinicius to fund Mbappe pursuit?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
9pm
Medvedev
Tiafoe
10.30pm
Alcaraz
Sinner
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal27213362253766
2Manchester CityMan City27194467254261
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd2615564135650
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs27153949371248
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle261211339192047
6Liverpool26126847291842
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton25126746311542
8Brentford26101154233941
9Fulham27116103837139
10Chelsea2610792726137
11Aston Villa26105113239-735
12Crystal Palace2769122134-1327
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2776142037-1727
14Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2768132249-2726
15Everton2767142038-1825
16Leicester CityLeicester2673163746-924
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham2666142434-1024
18Bournemouth2666142551-2624
19Leeds UnitedLeeds2658133142-1123
20Southampton2764172043-2322

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!