Real Madrid want to replace Hazard with Nkunku

Suraj Radia

• 13 Sep 2022 16:23 CDT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid are already preparing to draw up plans for the January transfer window and they could involve getting rid of their record signing.

Los Blancos have started their season with a 100% record in La Liga but it still hasn’t stopped the club from looking at ways to improve.

After missing out on Kylian Mbappe in the summer, Real opted against signing another attacker and the faith in their current crop has been rewarded, with Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema all getting off to goalscoring starts.

However, one player who has still failed to showcase his best ability is Eden Hazard and the €115 million signing could be moved on, with his contract set to expire in 2024.

A report from Superdeporte claims that president Florentino Perez is hoping to sell Hazard as soon as possible, with a January move being planned if the Belgian impresses in the World Cup.

Should the 31-year-old be sold, Real are hoping to replace him with RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku, who scored 35 goals in all competitions last season.

The Frenchman has already netted six times this campaign and he signed a new four-year deal with Leipzig in June, meaning his signature likely won’t come cheap.

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Writing on the wall for Hazard

Hazard scored against Celtic in the Champions League to give Real a glimmer of hope that he would return to form, and he was handed his first start since January against Mallorca.

However, despite Real’s win, Hazard’s performance filling in for Karim Benzema as a false nine was disappointing, compounding the club’s opinion of his time in Madrid.

The former Chelsea man has endured a host of injury issues since signing in 2019, managing just 51 league appearances and four goals.

He has played just 98 minutes of league football this season, with contract rebel Marco Asensio the only first team player with an appearance to play less, surely making Hazard’s days at the club numbered.