Real Madrid are reportedly ready to hijack Andrea Belotti from the grabs of Arsenal and Chelsea by paying his humongous buy-out clause in the summer.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato) have reported that Real Madrid are all set to steal a march on Arsenal and Chelsea to land Andrea Belotti in the summer by meeting the €100 million buy-out clause in the Italian striker’s contract.
Real Madrid are in search of a striker to add to their ranks in the summer, that much is well established by now. Karim Benzema hasn’t nearly been at his best this season, while Zinedine Zidane doesn’t seem to favour Alvaro Morata, who was bought back from Juventus only this past summer.
All this has led to reports claiming that the Real Madrid boss is looking to do a rejig of his attacking options as soon as the transfer window opens in June. As a result, the likes of Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
And now, Andrea Belotti is the latest name to be linked with Los Blancos, with the report from Gazzetta dello Sport stating that Real Madrid are interested to make the 23-year-old striker only the fourth Italian to ever wear the whites of the Spanish giants.
The Italy international is one of the most exciting young talents in Europe right now, and has made quite the impression this season with Torino. Belotti has netted 17 times in addition to 4 assists in 23 games in all competitions for Il Toro this season at an impressive rate of 115 minutes per goal, and he currently sits joint second in the Serie A top scorers list.
Last year also saw Belotti earn his maiden cap for Italy, and he has since played 5 times for the national team, scoring thrice and proving himself to be a dangerous presence in front of goal.
Arsenal are said to be set to enter the market for a striker in the summer, with there being no clarity over the future of Alexis Sanchez at the club. Apart from Sanchez, Olivier Giroud has contributed handily in recent weeks, while Danny Welbeck returning from a long injury layoff, with Lucas Perez in the mix too.
However, Wenger is said to be inclined towards adding a more potent goal threat, with Belotti identified as that striker. But their overtures for Belotti were thwarted recently with Torino revealing that they rejected a £56 million bid for their star striker.
Meanwhile, Chelsea too could be in the market for a striker in the summer with uncertainty surrounding the future of Diego Costa. With Michy Batshuayi still settling completely in West London, Conte was said to be interested in adding an attacking reinforcement, and he was eyeing Belotti as that addition.
However, Real Madrid now look set to beat the two English heavyweights with Gazzetta dello Sport revealing that Granata president, Urbano Cairo, will be travelling to the Spanish capital next week to discuss the possibility of Belotti moving to the Santiago Bernabeu before the start of next season.
Zidane is said to be looking to add a striker who still has his peak years ahead of him, and Belotti fits the bill perfectly. And after what has been a breakthrough season for him in 2016/17, the move to Real Madrid could just be the next step in his career.
