Reports: Real Madrid ready to pay over £100 million for Karim Benzema replacement
What’s the story?
Real Madrid are reportedly ready to pay anything to sign Kylian Mbappé. AS Monaco have demanded a world record fee for their starlet despite the player being just 18 years old.
Los Blancos have identified Mbappe as their future and want to sign him as soon as possible. The La Liga side have already started to hold talks with the Ligue 1 league leaders for the 18-year-old according to reports in Spain.
Spanish newspaper, AS report that Real Madrid have made him their top summer target - ahead of Aubameyang, Dybala and Aguero. They want to sign a top class striker to replace Karim Benzema and are keen on the Frenchman.
In case you didn’t know...
Benzema has been highly inconsistent for Madrid in the big games, and the club have finally 'lost faith' in him according to reports. He's been linked with a move away from the club for some time now, and this summer might eventually be the one when he leaves!
Zidane recently admitted that the 18-year-old almost joined Madrid for free in 2013 but ended up at Monaco. The Madrid manager has openly confirmed his admiration for the striker and is now keen on signing him in the summer.
The heart of the matter
Real Madrid are not the first club to show interest in Mbappe. Manchester United have already had two bids of £80 million and £95 million rejected for him.
AS Monaco are not willing to let him leave but face a task of keeping him should Madrid enter the race. Mbappe has openly revealed that he is a huge fan of Los Blancos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Aubameyang, Dybala and Aguero have been targetted by Madrid for a long time now to replace Benzema, but with the young Frenchman shining brightly in Ligue 1, he has been made the #1 target for the summer.
Barcelona, Paris Saint-German and Manchester City are reportedly keeping tabs on the Monaco starlet and are ready to pounce on any opportunity. Arsenal were also said to be in the running for the striker but the hefty fee demanded by Monaco has put them off.
What’s next?
Real Madrid are bound to go in with a bid of over £100 million for Mbappe in the summer. The club knows the quality Mbappe has and know that he will be a brilliant addition to the squad.
If he is signed, their striker issues will be solved for the next 10 years at least and that would count to about £10 million a season - something they won't mind spending for a striker who is already scoring around 20 goals a season!
Author’s Take
Though Mbappe is a bright prospect, spending £100 million on an 18-year-old would cause havoc in the transfer market! Clubs would start demanding insane fee for their players, and we could soon see average players move for £50-60 million!