Real Madrid reactivate operation Erling Haaland for 2024 – report | OneFootball

Last season, Karim Benzema single-handedly carried Real Madrid to the UEFA Champions League title against all odds. The Frenchman’s impact on the Merengues’ success served to educate clubs around the globe about how the right central striker could increase a team’s productivity multifold.

However, his form steeply fell off after winning the Ballon d’Or. Benzema has not been the same this season in front of goal and it is clear that there are concerns in the club offices.

Real Madrid have it as their top priority to buy a centre-forward this summer. The club want a striker no matter what and are actively scouting the market for options.

Los Blancos came very close to signing Gabriel Jesus last summer and felt they had found their man in the Brazilian. However, that move fell apart owing to the limitation on the number of non-EU players allowed.

The target now is seemingly Erling Haaland, according to AS. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have reactivated the operation to sign the Norweigan international in 2024, after losing out on his signing to Manchester City last year.

The 22-year-old striker has been at the centre of Pep Guardiola’s plans this season, scoring 28 goals and providing five assists in 26 league games.

Most recently, he equalled Lionel Messi’s freak record of scoring five goals in a single UCL knockout game. Only the manager’s decision to take him off stopped him from going on to break it on the night.

It was previously reported that Haaland had a release clause which would become active in 2024. More recently, though, it has been claimed that the clause was linked with Pep Guardiola’s future at City and since he renewed until 2025, Haaland’s exit clause is no longer applicable.

However, the report adds that Real Madrid are not worried about those claims and are well aware of Haaland’s contractual details and plan to move for him next year.

The Premier League top scorer’s signing in 2024 will be independent of what happens with the clubs’s interest in Kylian Mbappe. The idea of bringing Haaland, Mbappe and Vinicius together in 2024 is not one that is completely ruled out.

With players like Toni Kroos, Eden Hazard, Luka Modric and possibly Karim Benzema likely to step away after next season, there could be enough room on the wage bill to accommodate both Haaland and Mbappe, who will become a free agent in 2024 if he does not renew with PSG.

For now, though, what is clear is that Real Madrid plan to go after Haaland next year as they look to move on from Benzema and establish a new order.