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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ushered in the Galacticos (superstars in Spanish) era at the club during his first stint at their helm in the early 2000s.
It was thought that a plethora of big-name players would make Real Madrid the team to beat at home and Europe. Although things didn't exactly pan out that way, the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Sergio Ramos subsequently arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In later years, Madrid snapped up Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and recently Chelsea star Eden Hazard. A decade later, Ronaldo and Ramos are gone; Modric and Kroos are on the wrong side of 30, and Bale is seemingly surplus to requirements.
With new manager Carlo Ancelotti also enduring the departure of the club's long-serving central-defensive pair of Ramos and Raphael Varane, Real Madrid have been linked with a host of big-name players, which could possibly herald a new Galacticos era at the club.
On that note, here's a look at five players, in no particular order, who could be the new Galactico at Real Madrid:
#5 Harry Kane
Harry Kane is one of the hottest strikers on the planet at the moment. The Englishman has been a prolific scorer for club and country for a while,
Kane, who top-scored for England at Euro 2020, endured another trophyless campaign last season at Tottenham Hotspur despite scoring over 30 goals in all competitions. As a result, the 28-year-old has been linked with a number of top clubs around Europe, one of them being Real Madrid.
Madrid did flirt with the idea of bringing Kane to the Bernabeu when Cristiano Ronaldo departed the club.
But three years later, considering Madrid's financial woes and Spurs unlikely to let go of their prized possession for cheap, Kane's move to the Santiago Bernabeu seems like a fanciful proposition. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that if the move were to materialise, the England striker would be a 'Galactico' signing and possibly live up to his reputation as well.
#4 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah was one of the star performers in an otherwise dismal campaign for Premier League holders Liverpool last season.
The Egyptian has enjoyed a purple patch since arriving on English shores four years ago, amassing 125 goals and 47 assists in over 200 appearances across competitions. Salah has averaged more than 20 league goals a season at Liverpool.
In the midst of Liverpool's injury-plagued campaign last summer, Salah was strongly linked with a move away from Anfield, with Real Madrid and Barcelona touted to be his next destination.
But Salah is a key player under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. With the winger having two more seasons left on his contract with the club, who finished fourth in the league last season, Salah is unlikely to move to the Santiago Bernabeu any time soon.
#3 Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba, a world-class midfielder, has been linked with Real Madrid almost every summer since his return to Manchester United from Juventus five years ago.
While there is no questioning the quality of the Frenchman, the Old Trafford faithful has often been left frustrated with Pogba's indifferent exploits at the club. While the Frenchman has not fared terribly at the club, a return of 38 goals and 45 assists in over 200 appearances is considered too modest for a player of his calibre.
Pogba apparently rekindled rumours of a move to Real Madrid last season when he said that it would be a dream for him to join the Spanish giants.
However, with the Frenchman still being considered a key player by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer despite the emergence of Bruno Fernandes, Pogba may have to wait for a while before completing his 'dream move' to Real Madrid.
At 28, Pogba is now in his prime, so Madrid would have to move quickly to snap up the Galactico before he begins to fade away.
#2 Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is arguably the hottest young striker in the game since scoring a memorable hat-trick on his Champions League debut two seasons ago.
The 21-year-old has hit the ground running after arriving at Borussia Dortmund in January last year, scoring 57 goals in 59 games across competitions, with 41 of those strikes coming last season.
Owing to his proflic goalscoring exploits, the young Norwegian has been linked with a host of big-name clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Reports have it that Haaland, who becomes a free agent next summer, has apparently agreed 'in principle' to join Real Madrid next summer.
If the transfer does happen, Haaland would be an immediate upgrade on Real Madrid's existing attacking options and possibly take over fromthe ageing warhorse Karim Benzema.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
Along with Haaland, Kylian Mbappe is one of the best young strikers in the game at the moment.
Despite being only 22, the Frenchman is already a FIFA World Cup winner, won four Ligue 1 titles and racked up close to 200 goal contributions in 171 games in all competitions for PSG.
He may have endured a forgettable campaign at Euro 2020, missing the decisive penalty in the shootout that confirmed France's Round-of-16 exit against Switzerland, Mbappe remains a much sought-after target of many clubs.
Real Madrid have long been linked with a move for the Frenchman, with their former manager Zinedine Zidane reportedly a big fan of his younger compatriot.
However, it remains to be seen if Mbappe, who has a year left on his current contract with PSG, lands up at the Santiago Bernabeu and possibly forms a devastating partnership with Erling Haaland.
