Real Madrid have reportedly decided to prioritise a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe over Manchester City's Erling Haaland in 2024.
Los Blancos surprisingly waved goodbye to Karim Benzema after 14 years of service in the summer transfer window, as the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner joined Saudi Pro League holders Al-Ittihad.
Benzema was expected to continue in the famous white strip until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024, but his departure forced Real into the strikers' market, and a loan deal for Espanyol's Joselu was secured.
However, Benzema's departure has seen Carlo Ancelotti switch to a two-man strikeforce for the 2023-24 season, with Joselu battling Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior to spearhead the attack.
Rodrygo has admitted that he is struggling to adapt to the new demands placed on him this season, though, as the Brazil international has managed just two goals in 14 matches across all tournaments this season.
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Instead, Real Madrid's chief goal threat this season has been Kopa Trophy winner Jude Bellingham, who has made an exceptional start to life at the Bernabeu with 13 goals from as many games across La Liga and the Champions League.
Despite the 20-year-old's unforeseen exploits, Real are expected to dip into their warchest for a big-money striker signing next year, with Mbappe and Haaland believed to be their two primary targets.
A deal for Mbappe appears more feasible, though, and according to L'Equipe - via Foot Mercato - Real president Florentino Perez believes that the PSG attacker would be a better fit for his club than Haaland.
Perez apparently thinks that Mbappe's arrival would help to continue bringing the best out of Bellingham, despite the Englishman's productive relationship with Haaland during their days at Borussia Dortmund.
Mbappe has been expected to swap Paris for La Liga for a number of years, only for PSG to block Real's approaches in 2021 before tying the 24-year-old down to a new contract last year.
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However, Mbappe is now in the final 12 months of those terms, and the World Cup winner was transfer-listed by PSG in the summer after informing the club that he would not be triggering his 12-month extension.
Mbappe was demoted to a group of out-of-favour players dubbed the 'undesirables', but he was eventually allowed back into Luis Enrique's squad after holding productive talks with the powers-that-be.
The former Monaco starlet - who was also the subject of a world-record bid from Al-Hilal over the summer - has begun the 2023-24 as he means to go on with 12 goals from 13 matches, but his contract situation remains unresolved.
An extension has supposedly not been ruled out, though, and Real released a statement this week emphatically denying claims that they have already entered talks with his entourage over a transfer in 2024.
In addition, Los Blancos may have to fend off interest from Liverpool if they are to finally bring Mbappe to the Spanish capital, with the Reds said to be optimistic of securing a deal if he does exit the Parc des Princes for nothing.
Ben Knapton
