Real Madrid are reportedly pondering over summer moves for Edin Dzeko and Alexandre Lacazette.
With rumours of Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata departing in the summer intensifying by week, Real Madrid have been linked with host of strikers and now according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, AS Roma’s Edin Dzeko and Olympique Lyonnais’ Alexandre Lacazette have joined that list.
Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette recently confirmed that he wished to move at the end of the season. The 25-year-old graduated through the youth ranks at Lyon and after breaking into the first team at the turn of the decade, he has gone on to become one Europe’s most clinical strikers.
In 255 games for the French side, he has scored 113 goals and racked up 40 assists. It is a superb record, one that begs the question of why he hasn’t moved to a bigger club yet. This season, he has continued his great form, getting 18 goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances.
His scoring streak hasn’t gone unnoticed however, as other European heavyweights such as Real Madrid’s arch rivals Barcelona were linked with a move for the striker last summer, as they looked to recruit backup for Messi, Neymar and Suarez before eventually settling for Paco Alcacer.
He stated that moving to Barcelona to team up alongside former teammate Samuel Umtiti was a dream and that he would love to play for them someday, but he was wary of the fact that he might not replace Luis Suarez in the starting XI anytime soon.
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas recently said: “If Barcelona or Manchester United one day make an offer commensurate with what Alex is worth to our club, no one will stand in its way. Alex has wanted to play in a great club, and Lyon does not object. We are perfectly in line.”
Lacazette is also reported to be a target for Premier League giants Arsenal. The Gunners were reportedly set to hold talks with the Frenchman in the summer. They had a €35 million bid for the Frenchman rejected in the summer and were told to raise their bid to €48 million, which never happened.
It is likely that the Frenchman will once again be subject to a bid from the English giants at the end of the season as they look reinforce a squad severely lacking in quality upfront. Wenger has been forced to play Sanchez upfront due to lacklustre form of Olivier Giroud and injury to Welbeck.
The Gunners are effectively out of the title race this season and Arsene Wenger will surely come under a lot of pressure to spend big in the summer in order to mount a stronger title challenge next term and a player of Lacazette’s quality would significantly strengthen their options.
At 25, Lacazette would be a younger and a long term replacement for Benzema. He is also a far deadlier striker than Alvaro Morata, who hasn’t been in the best form over the last 2 years and could very well lead the line at the Bernabeu for a long time.
He certainly has the talent to do so, and under the watchful eyes of compatriot and club legend Zinedine Zidane, the Spanish capital may be the perfect place for the Frenchman to live up to his vast potential and win trophies.
Edin Dzeko
Since making his move to Roma a permanent one in the summer, the former Manchester City striker has been in phenomenal form. In 32 appearances this season in all competitions, he has managed to find the net 24 times and has also registered 7 assists.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Captain has no intention of leaving Rome just yet and neither the Giallorossi nor manager Luciano Spalletti with to see him go, however the report states that a big enough offer may force the Italian giants to consider selling him.
Real Madrid would no doubt be able to afford any price that Roma have in mind and Dzeko, who turns 31 in March, would be a perfect short term option for Los Blancos, who can also play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo once he moves further upfront as a striker.
Real will also be looking to incorporate youngsters such as Mariano Diaz and Lucas Vazquez into the starting XI over the course of the next few season, so with that in mind the former Wolfsburg hitman would be a good short term choice, given winning titles in the England and Germany.
