Real Madrid ready to sign one of two strikers before transfer deadline if Project Kylian Mbappe is postponed until 2024: Reports
Real Madrid are reportedly still interested in signing Kylian Mbappe this summer despite Carlo Ancelotti claiming that their squad was set. The Spanish side are keen on adding a striker but will supposedly move for another target if the PSG star doesn't join them this week.
As per a report in El Nacional, Florentino Perez has made it clear that they are ready to make a move for a striker should Mbappe decide to reject a move this summer. The Real Madrid president is also aware that PSG's demands are high, but is hoping that their asking price reduces at the end of the window.
The Spanish report states that Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus and Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan are the 'Plan B' and 'Plan C' targets. Real Madrid reportedly do not have a favorite among the two, but are keeping tabs should a last-ditch move for Mbappe fail.
Ancelotti has changed his system at Real Madrid and has pushed new signing Jude Bellingham to play as a False 9. Perez wants a striker added as he eyes trophies this season. Both Vlahovic and Martinez are young, 23 and 25, respectively. So, they can serve the club potentially for a long time.
Vlahovic scored 14 goals last season, across competitions, for Juventus in 42 matches. He also provided four assists. Martinez, in the same season, produced 28 goals and 11 assists in 57 matches, across competitions, for his team, Inter Milan.
The Italian manager, though, insisted that their window was closed for this season and said:
"100 percent. There will be no new signings. It's over, the team is complete." (via Fabrizio Romano).
Kylian Mbappe said last year he was still dreaming about a move to Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe was close to joining Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer. However, he decided to pen a new deal at PSG and extend his stay by at least two seasons.
Speaking to BBC after putting pen to paper, Mbappe claimed that he was not giving up on his dream to play for Real Madrid. He added that the move was to help PSG:
"You never know what can happen in the future. I give up to think about the future. I only think about the present and the present is I signed a new contract for three years more at Paris Saint-Germain."
Kylian Mbappe informed PSG earlier this summer that he would not be activating the optional year in his contract. The Ligue 1 side has been pushing to sell him but have only received one offer from Al Hilal, which has been rejected by the forward.