A Haaland alternative? Real Madrid make shock move for Chelsea flop

Stuart Telford

• 25 Apr 2023 11:40 BST
• 3 min read

Erling Haaland remains a top transfer target for Real Madrid, but the Manchester City man doesn't look to be going anywhere soon, forcing to Spanish and European champions to look elsewhere.

Real are in the market for a new No.9. Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or as recently as October and is likely to stay on for another year, but the Frenchman is increasingly injured and turns 36 next season.

Los Blancos will sign Brazilian prodigy Endrick from Palameiras for €72 million in the summer of 2024 when he turns 18, but that means there is time in the interim when Real need an elite-level striker in his prime now.

READ: Real Madrid receive update on €80m striker target

And that man could be Romelu Lukaku, despite the Belgian's recent travails with Chelsea and Inter Milan.

Madrid scout in Milan

"The first movements that indicate Real Madrid are interested in signing Romelu Lukaku have already taken place," report Spanish transfer outlet Fichajes. "Madrid scouts have been seen at Inter Milan matches recently and they should have returned with positive reports, with Lukaku scoring goals and silencing doubters despite an injury-plagued season."

Lukaku fired Inter to the Serie A title in 2021 before making a €115m return to Chelsea, but he returned to the Nerazzurri on loan last summer after a disappointing season in England.

READ: Romelu Lukaku is now Chelsea's BEST attacker this season

After troubles with injury and his weight, Lukaku has looked to be getting back to his best in recent weeks, and had a hand in all three goals - a brace and an assist - as Inter beat Empoli 3-0 on Sunday.

Inter reportedly have little intention of making Lukaku's stay at San Siro permanent. Having already paid €11.7m for his loan, the €46.5m he is valued at by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm is above and beyond what they are willing to pay.

It is a fee Real would stretch to, however, and significantly cheaper than the €240m Haaland would likely cost in the summer of 2024, when Endrick is arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu anyway.