Benzema BOMBSHELL: Real Madrid sign relegated Premier League FLOP as replacement

Tom Weber

• Updated: 30 May 2023 20:47 BST
• 4 min read

Real Madrid have found their new striker amid speculation that Karim Benzema could be on his way out.

The Real Madrid legend has had an offer for a new Los Blancos deal on the table for a while, according to Fabrizio Romano, but he has not signed it yet which has now given a Saudi Arabian club - said to be Al-Hilal, who are also trying to sign Lionel Messi - the chance to approach the Frenchman.

Though the bid pales in comparison to the several hundred million per season offered to Messi, it is believed to be a very lucrative deal indeed, with Romano pitting it at €100 million. Nothing has been decided yet, but Real Madrid, already said to have been looking for another number nine to back up Benzema, are now speeding up the process of getting a potential replacement in.

READ: Benzema may QUIT Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia

Out-of-contract Liverpool star Roberto Firmino has been rumoured as a potential target, but Romano has now confirmed that another former Premier League player appears to be on his way to the Santiago Bernabeu - and his track record in England is much less impressive.

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) May 30, 2023

Relegated Joselu

The man in question is Joselu from relegated LaLiga side Espanyol. The former Stoke and Newcastle man, who only scored 10 Premier League goals in 68 appearances, is on the verge of joining Los Blancos on loan, with a deal close to being done, according to Romano.

The now-33-year-old initially impressed as a youngster with Real Madrid's reserves and earned himself a move to Hoffenheim in Germany, the country of his birth. Respectable if unspectacular goal hauls with Frankfurt and Hannover followed before the Spaniard made the move to England.

READ: Messi to the Premier League? It could happen!

There, he failed to have the desired impact, so nobody could have anticipated what was to come when he returned to Spain. Since going back to LaLiga in 2019/20, Joselu has racked up an incredible 52 goals, first with Alaves and then Espanyol.

It seems weird for Real to target a 33-year-old, but one thing is clear: he will likely score plenty of goals for them.