Hazard and five other 'galácticos' on Real Madrid's radar
Madrid are keen to bring in some big names to bolster their squad next summer and here are six Florentino would get his chequebook out for.
Chelsea player Eden Hazard's father set the alarm bells ringing at Stamford Bridge, saying that his son had stopped contract negotiations in case Real Madrid came calling... but Hazard isn't the only name Real Madrid's deal makers are focused on, with the following players on the list of stars Bernabéu bosses are running the rule over...
Kane. Goals in his blood
Age: 24 Contract finishes: 2022 Goals in 2017/18: 15
Harry Kane, 2017's top scorer with 55, would delight the Real Madrid fans, and the Bernabéu executives and coaching staff too. However Pochettino, Kane's current coach at Tottenham Spur, tried to pour cold water on any potential move, saying it's "impossible" to put a price on the striker, and that therefore he is "out of the market". Florentino Pérez may well have other ideas though. The worry, as with any signing up front, is how Ronaldo will react.
Neymer. Florentino Pérez's dream
Age: 25 Contract finishes: 2022 Goals in 2017/18: 17
Neymar is Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez's main desire. He's even admitted it, saying after the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony that he thought that Neymar at Real Madrid was a great idea. "At Madrid, he'd find it easeier to win the Ballon d'Or. Madrid is a club which gives great players what they need. Everyone knows I wanted to sign him before..." Neymar meanwhile is said to be happy with the idea of a move to the Spanish capital, and his buy-out clause of 222 million is high, but not an impossible barrier. And Dybala's agent reckons it's happening too.
Mbappé. Florentino said no before
Age: 19 Contract finishes: On loan to PSG till 2018, with a purchase option Goals in 2017/18: 12
Florentino Pérez actually met with Mbappé's family in Paris to negotiate a move to Madrid, but in the end decided not to go ahead. His reason: he didn't want to get rid of either of the weaker members of the bbC, Benzema and Bale for the French youngster. Mbappé for his part was keen on Madrid, having had his room plastered with photos of the club and Ronaldo as a lad, but now he's made the move to PSG it looks unlikely he'll change his mind in the near future.
Lewandowski. A major target in 2013 and 2016
Age: 29 Contract finishes: 2021 Goals in 2017/18: 21
Robert Lewandowski is an long held desire for Madrid. The Spanish club tried to sign him twice before, in 2013 and 2016. The first time, Florentino Pérez asked him directly if he wanted to move to Madrid, after Real Madrid had played his then side Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League at the Bernabéu. The second time, Real Madrid tried, but were outbid by Bayern Munich.
Icardi. A potential for this transfer window
Age: 24 Contract finishes: 2021 Goals in 2017/18: 17
The poor performances from Benzema this season so far have led Madrid to seriously consider signing a striker as soon as possible, and the name of Mauro Icardi has been heard most regularly recently as Madrid's main option in the winter transfer window (with the striker now said to be stalling over a new deal). However, sources at Real Madrid have said the rumours are simply the fruit of the work of Icardi's agent and wife Wanda Nara who is aiming to improve his bargaining position in the talks with Inter Milan as he discusses his renewal to 2023.
