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Karim Benzema’s days at the Santiago Bernabeu may be coming to an end. The Frenchman has played a stellar role in the recent success of Real Madrid. He has won his third consecutive UEFA Champions League title this summer, and fourth overall with Real Madrid.
Benzema has played 413 games for Real Madrid in his nine years tenure at the club so far. He has scored 192 goals for the Spanish giants and assisted almost 100 goals. Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo have formed a ruthless front three, famously known as ‘BBC’.
Ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, Florentino Perez is looking to revamp his frontline. There are recent reports linking the 30-year-old to top Serie A clubs. Also, Benzema will be 31 in December and Real has to look for the future no.9.
Though Real Madrid would want to sign any of Harry Kane, Mo Salah, Neymar or Kylian Mbappe, the possibilities of such transfers looks very slim at the moment. However, they are quite a few other great strikers in Europe that Real Madrid can sign to replace Benzema.
On that note, let’s take a look at the five players who can replace Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.
#5 Rodrigo Moreno
The 27-year-old was one of the standout players in La Liga last season. The Valencia striker has scored 16 goals and assisted four more in 37 La Liga appearances during the 2017/18 campaign. He played a big part in Valencia’s top four finish in La Liga last season.
He was also selected in Spain’s 23-man World Cup 2018 squad by Julen Lopetegui. Rodrigo has a history with Real Madrid. He has spent time at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid youth teams before moving to Benfica at the age of 19.
Julen Lopetegui and Rodrigo both share Jorge Mendes as their agent which may reduce complexities in the deal. He is already under the radar of top European clubs and is valued at €120 million. He is at the peak of his career right now and could certainly benefit Lopetegui and Real Madrid.
#4 Timo Werner
The 22-year-old German international is one of the hottest properties in Europe right now. Ever since his move to RasenBallsport Leipzig in 2016, the Timo Werner has scored 34 goals and assisted 12 more in only 56 Bundesliga starts. He was instrumental in their second place Bundesliga finish in 2016/17.
Timo Werner holds the record for being the youngest player to make 100 Bundesliga appearances (20 years and 203 days). Werner has played 17 times for Germany and scored eight times. He also represented his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Werner is a quick centre-forward who likes to score a lot of goals. He is composed in front of goal and good in the air. He is only 22 and will only get better with time on the pitch. It is no surprise that the Galacticos are chasing a player of his caliber.
#3 Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani is one of the best strikers in the world at the moment. The Paris Saint-Germain star was exceptional during the 2017/18 season. He has scored 34 goals and assisted six more for PSG in all competitions last season.
The 31-year-old is a physically strong centre-forward who possesses a brilliant technique when it comes to finishing. He is ruthless inside the box and is brilliant with his head. His work rate is exceptional and he can score some stunning goals.
Cavani was brilliant for Uruguay in the 2018 World Cup with three goals to his name. He is an experienced striker and Real Madrid could certainly benefit from his stunning goalscoring exploits.
#2 Robert Lewandowski
Real Madrid fans cannot forget this man. He once scored four goals for Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League semi-final game against Real Madrid. The Bayern Munich star is one of the most accomplished strikers in the world.
He has scored 35 goals and assisted two more for Bayern Munich in all competitions last season. He averaged 4.2 shots per game in Bundesliga last campaign. He has brilliant instincts as a striker and finds himself in the right place inside the box on most occasions.
Lewandowski is powerful, pacy, and has a great technical ability. He is a prolific finisher who works really hard on the pitch. The 29-year-old is definitely one of the top five no.9’s in the world right now. He could be a great signing for Real Madrid.
#1 Mauro Icardi
Icardi was one of those unlucky players who failed to make it to the 2018 World Cup. The Argentine international was phenomenal for Inter Milan during the 2017/18 campaign.
He has scored 28 goals in 34 Serie A appearance last season. Inter finished in the top-four last season, thanks in most part to Icardi’s phenomenal performances. He is not of those quick players but has various other great attributes.
The 25-year-old is a predator inside the box and an accurate finisher. A deadly striker, Icardi has an eye for goal all the time and is clever when it comes to finding goal scoring positions inside the box.
Though he will cost somewhere around €100 million, he has a lot to offer to justify his huge price tag.
