Real Madrid eyes young Spanish striker Carlos Espí as Gonzalo heads to Fulham
AS can confirm that the Levante striker, who had a deal agreed with Hull City, has paused his exit after Real Madrid entered the picture.
Real Madrid is close to finalizing Gonzalo’s transfer to Fulham, and with that move nearly wrapped up, the club has turned its attention to the market in search of a new backup striker.
AS can confirm that Carlos Espí has quickly become one of the names gaining traction inside the club’s planning.
Espí is under contract with Levante through June 2028, and the club is pointing directly to his release clause — about $27 million — as the only way to free him. Hull City had been close to completing the deal, but that operation is now hanging by a thread.
Real Madrid makes its first move
Sources close to the talks — still in a very early phase — say Real Madrid has already shown interest, with initial contact made both with Levante and with Espí’s camp. For now, the 21‑year‑old striker is staying calm, waiting to see how things develop in the coming days. He has paused all other negotiations, including foreign offers.
At just 21, Espí is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing stories of the summer window. Hull City had already submitted a formal bid to Levante and was only waiting to finalize personal terms, which were not expected to be an issue.
The Tigers view Espí as the ideal striker to strengthen their ambitious project — one aimed not only at staying in the Premier League after promotion, but eventually fighting for European spots. Now, with Real Madrid entering the picture, Hull fears its marquee signing could collapse at any moment.
A replacement for Gonzalo
Gonzalo’s big‑money exit leaves Real Madrid needing a reliable backup for Kylian Mbappé at center forward. Endrick can fill that role for now, but as AS previously reported, both José Mourinho and the club’s sporting department are actively searching for another option.
The plan is clear: no superstars, just a striker who can play the role once filled by Joselu — a dependable finisher, a pure No. 9 who can step in whenever Mbappé needs rest or when Mourinho wants a more traditional target man.
Espí fits that profile perfectly. He’s a striker who can shake up a match, break defensive blocks, and change the rhythm when games get stuck. In his first season in Spain’s top flight, he scored 13 goals in 27 matches across LaLiga and the Copa del Rey — several of them crucial in Levante’s fight to stay in the elite.
With first contact already made, the opening step is complete. Now Real Madrid waits for the final chapter of the story.
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