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It has been a travesty of a season for Real Madrid. The defending European champions will end this season trophyless, the first time since the last dark days of the Jose Mourinho era.
The signs had already looked ominous right from the beginning of the season; Zinedine Zidane's surprising resignation after three-peating the UEFA Champions League and then the shocking transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.
Shameful losses across competitions (seven losses at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga alone), non-performing stars, off-field strife and so much more has been the norm this season.
This has cost Julen Lopetegui his job. His replacement, Santiago Solari has been an embarrassing failure and most certainly won't be at the helm next season.
The name; Kylian Mbappe is one that has been linked often to the club. Club president, Florentino Perez has expressed his admiration for the teenage prodigy for a long time (even before he moved to PSG).
The pursuit of the World Cup winner stopped the club from going after strikers in the summer. This led to a club of Real Madrid's stature being forced to play with ineffectual strikers like Karim Benzema and Mariano Diaz.
PSG are not likely to let their star man go (or for a very hefty fee) and with other positions also needing reinforcement, Los Blancos will need to shift attention to other strikers.
Here is a look at 5 potential targets:
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#5 Krzysztof Piątek (AC Milan)
The Polish hitman has had a debut season for the ages in Serie A. This had led to people forgetting that until July last year, Piatek was still plying his trade in the Polish Ekstraklasa with Cracovia Kraków.
Signed by Serie A side, Genoa for just €4.5m in July 2018, his adaptation to top-level football has been unreal. He has displayed the sort of deadly finishing Benzema has failed to provide at the Bernabeu this season.
He started like a house on fire at Genoa, hitting 13 goals in 19 Serie A matches for the Rossoblu. The decision of Gonzalo Higuain to join Chelsea on loan meant AC Milan needed a new number 9.
Piatek was identified as the right man to fill this hole and a €35m deal was agreed. He has continued his exploits with 6 goals in 7 games for the Rossoneri.
Were Real Madrid to make a move for him, Piatek has shown enough to suggest he can flourish at the Bernabeu as well.
A willing runner/worker, his hold-up play, improvisation, and positioning are as good as the world's best marksmen. Aged just 23, he is still learning his trade and could become an amazing value-for-money signing for Los Merengues.
The Milan side has realistic hopes of making the UCL next season and will resist any attempt to get their newly-minted goal getter out of the San Siro. If Real Madrid really wants him, Perez is going to have to shell out the big bucks.
#4 Richarlison (Everton)
Like he did last season, the 21-year-old seems to have faded after a great start. He got 6 goals in his first 10 Premier League games but has only gotten 6 in his last 18 games.
To be honest, the newly-minted Brazilian international is still not being fully deployed as a central striker and has started lots of games recently down the flanks.
However, Richarlison has shown enough to convince that given an extended run as a striker in a team like Real Madrid, he could run riot
Blessed with intelligence, strength, speed, and agility, his style of play reminds one of a certain Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima.
Brilliant in the air, like Ronaldo, his trickery and quick feet help him get off shots before defenders have time to react. This he has done on a number of occasions already for a stuttering Everton side and could do better surrounded by the more cultured settings of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
The Toffees just paid £40m for his services in the summer. If Perez wants to get him to switch from Merseyside to Madrid, he may have to double what the club paid Watford for his services.
#3 Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Starting off as a winger, certain pundits had already noted that the Sierra-Leonian born Spaniard would do better as a central striker.
Like so many pacy players, he was ultimately shifted into the wings and has played as a winger for a while.
Former manager, Eduardo Berizzo, was the first person to move Williams into a central striking role. New manager, Gaizka Garitano has continued that with the club reaping the benefits.
The Spanish youngster shares so many characteristics with Ronaldo; pace, intelligence, power, skill. He could with the right coaching imitate the Portuguese superstar's success in a striking role.
While it is still a work in progress, there are positive signs Williams is growing into the role. His hold-up play is improving and he uses his pace to help the team stretch opposing defences.
He would be amazing for Real Madrid and it makes sense from the perspective that he is already a known quality. Benzema and Mariano's lack of pace has slowed down the team's transitions this season.
This is something Inaki has shown to be great at and would be of great benefit for the club. As usual with Athletic Bilbao, Inaki has a buyout clause (rumoured to be €108m) that Madrid WILL have to meet.
#2 Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
The German striker Timo Werner has been on the radar of Real Madrid for a couple of years now. At one point, he was the hottest striking property on the continent.
Quick, intelligent and deadly in front of goal, the young German has the makings of a very good striker, the type Real Madrid is in need of at the moment. His movement and ability to create an extra yard of space is great and allows him to get an extra yard to get ahead of opposing defenders or create space for teammates.
His blistering speed means he is comfortable playing as a winger if need be. If Real Madrid were to get him in, he could play a similar role as Ronaldo was playing before. His movement and intelligence mean space could open up in the middle for the midfielders whenever he makes moves.
RB Leipzig will not lose their prize asset easily. Rumours of an agreement with Bayern Munich have been slapped down by Leipzig's sporting director; Ralf Ragnick. So it will take an enticing fee for the German side to sell.
#1 Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
The Argentine's situation at Inter Milan remains murky. While his issues and his wife Wanda Nara's antics continue to dominate tabloid headlines in Italy, this has not stopped Mauro Icardi from being one of the best strikers in Europe.
Despite his injuries and off-field issues, the 25-year-old has still managed to get 13 goals from 26 games (a goal per every 2 games).
For a team like the Nerazzurri that does not create that much, this is a very impressive stat.
Intelligent, deadly, brilliant at holding the ball up and bringing in wingers and midfielders, the Argentine international has been one of the leading goalscorers in the Serie A. He has been named the Capocannoniere (top scorer in the league) twice.
His style of play has become more nuanced in recent years. He no longer drifts all over the pitch as he used to in his younger days. He stays more in the opponent's area where he can conserve his energy and make the most impact.
This would be excellent as it would allow players like Vinicius, Marco Asensio, and others to play better off him.
Inter Milan look to be tired of his drama and with his current contract winding down, they may be eager to do a deal in the summer.
