Transfer speculation surrounding Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé never ceases, and Real Madrid continue to be linked with the potential signing of the Frenchman. However, Spanish newspaper AS claim that the superstar has “many doubts” about making the move away from the Parc des Princes.
If he does opt to stay in Paris, that could force Real Madrid to look at alternatives for their front line, given that coach Carlo Ancelotti has faced up to this season without a regular center-forward in his team.
Instead, Joselu has become a rotation option but wingers Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes have filled in as central attackers. Long-term, though, Real Madrid are likely to consider an alternative to Mbappé, which could point them to one of these five options.
Erling Haaland
The obvious candidate in that he is the only player in world soccer who can compete with Kylian Mbappé in terms of talent and reputation. His 19 goals in 22 games for Manchester City this season have only added to that profile, having scored 52 in 53 last season as he won the Premier League and Champions League.
Cadena SER reported this month that the club are pursuing the Norwegian, but are taking it slow in the approach, just as they did to sign his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham 12 months ago.
Haaland’s contract with Manchester City is set to 2027 and the Citizens are unlikely to want to allow their star man to depart. MARCA, however, claim that he has a €200 million ($216.8 million) release clause which may be a price Real Madrid could consider paying.
Jamal Musiala
A step down on the reputation scale but without looking for raw potential, Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala could be an alternative. A different kind of profile to the traditional number nine of Haaland or a wide forward like Mbappé, he’s an offensive midfielder who could combine just like Jude Bellingham and Brahim Díaz have this season.
At only 20 years of age, he’s already become a regular at club level and for the German national team and became the youngest ever player to reach 100 appearances for Bayern in December.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are facing a battle for the Bundesliga title and AS claim that Musiala would only consider a move away from Munich if Real Madrid or Manchester City came calling and the Spanish side could do just that. It would also reunite Musiala with Bellingham, a former teammate from his days in England’s youth ranks.
Benjamin Sesko
20-year-old Slovenian forward Benjamin Sesko will first face Real Madrid as a rival in the Champions League this season, but he has also caught the eye with his impressive performances for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, in addition to his towering physique.
At 6’4″, his aerial prowess makes him a threat and an option which could replicate the impact that Joselu has provided this season, but with youth on his side. His progress has been steady, earning a move to Germany after a spell with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, scoring 18 goals in 41 games and becoming their most prolific scorer since Haaland.
Defensa Central reported that Real Madrid were monitoring him this summer, tracking the potential of a youngster who is capable of playing with both feet. Eight goals in 25 games in Germany shows that he continues to adapt and is not yet as prolific as Mbappé, but he could be one of those who Real Madrid bring in with one eye on the future.
Joselu
Already at the club, Joselu is only on loan at Real Madrid and a purchase option in the existing agreement would need to be exercised to keep him at the Bernabéu beyond this summer.
10 goals in 30 appearances to date this campaign sounds impressive, and he has offered depth and options off the bench, but he is without a goal in his last 12 LALIGA appearances and has not started for Carlo Ancelotti in any of the major fixtures since the win over Girona in September.
Turning 34 in March, he wouldn’t offer a long-term solution or any potential re-sale value, but he is a popular figure in the dressing room, as well as the brother-in-law of team-mate Dani Carvajal, and offers a continuation of what the team has this season. That might not be a bad thing given the current results in 2023/24.
Nobody at all
There is always the possibility that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez instead prefers to save his money and invest elsewhere in the squad. It would be a gamble, but one that invests in loyalty and the players that Carlo Ancelotti already has at his disposal, with Rodrygo Goes and Vinícius Júnior being the ones to occupy the front line of the team’s offense.
Jude Bellingham has also blown fans away with his goals far exceeding expectations as he has racked up 18 goals in 26 games since joining in the summer. The Englishman has played as a makeshift forward at times, providing a cutting edge in front of goal that has made him LALIGA’s leading goalscorer.
Pérez has held off investing heavily the pandemic, with Bellingham being the only man to rival the €100 million ($108.3 million) spent on Eden Hazard in 2019. Hazard’s failure was a lesson to the club’s leader, and it seems unlikely that Real Madrid would dive in and take a gamble on a player who does not convince those in charge.
