The transfer rumour mill is spluttering into action following a quiet few months and there is a huge story coming out of Spain as Real Madrid look to sign a new forward when the transfer window reopens in January.
According to Spanish newspaper SPORT (via The Express), Real have grown tired of the efforts of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale during a lacklustre start to the season that has seen Los Blancos already fire their newly appointed manager from the summer, Julen Lopetegui, and replace him with Santi Solari until the end of the season.
Benzema has scored just five goals in twelve La Liga appearances this term and the 30-year-old could be deemed surplus to requirements soon enough, while Bale is also sweating on his place in the Los Blancos side after failing to grasp the opportunity to become Real's main man after Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus in the summer. Bale has scored three goals in eleven league appearances this season.
We take a look at the three forwards Real are likely to target in January...
Harry Kane
The England forward has long been touted for a move to the Bernabeu and it would take some offer for Tottenhan Hotspur to even countenance selling him. However, Spurs have hit a bit of a rut of late - off the pitch at least - as the new stadium plans and lack of transfer activity continue to stifle their progression. The North London club face a serious battle to secure a spot in next season's Champions League and their own efforts in Europe this term have left plenty to be desired.
Has Mauricio Pochettino taken them as far as he can? The Spurs manager has been strongly linked with the Real Madrid manager's position in recent weeks and whether he stays with his current employers will likely hold the key to the future of a number of Tottenham players, Kane included. The Spurs striker is more likely to be a target for the summer when Real will be more willing to splash the cash, but this is a transfer saga that could run and run.
Radamel Falcao
The Express are reporting that Radamel Falcao is seen as an ideal stop-gap solution to the goalscoring problem at The Bernabeu. For Real, it would be like putting a band-aid on a wound that requires 76 stitches as the 32-year-old has only scored four goals in eleven Ligue 1 games after becoming increasingly disillusioned with life at Monaco in France.
Would the man who scored 70 goals in 91 games during his spell at Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2013 be welcome at Atleti's cross-city rivals?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swedish legend has previous said that he wouldn't consider a loan move away from LA Galaxy when the Major League Soccer season ends next month, although the Express have touted him a short-term switch to The Bernabeu.
The 37-year-old scored 22 goals in 27 MLS appearances and would be viewed as an ideal temporary signing until the end of the season, particularly as he wouldn't be cup-tied for Champions League games.
This Ronaldo transfer has got them rattled.
#HalaMadrid
