Football News: Real Madrid makes Tottenham’s Harry Kane their top transfer target

Real Madrid have reportedly made Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur their top aim to replace Karim Benzema this summer.

Los Blancos had planned to wait until 2024 before spending big money on a new striker, since Benzema was due to sign a new one-year contract.

However, after a dizzying few days, the Ballon d'Or winner has finally revealed that he will leave the Spanish giants at the end of the season, amid reports of a move to Saudi Arabia.

When such speculation first appeared a few days ago, both Benzema and Carlo Ancelotti played it down, but the Frenchman will now finish his glittering 14-year stint at the Bernabeu.

With the departures of Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard, and Mariano Diaz, Real Madrid is now short on attacking options, with only Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo manning the fort up front.

Unsurprisingly, Ancelotti has confessed that his team will need to look for a new number nine this summer, and according to The Mirror, Kane is their top target.

Despite being top of the goal scoring lists for both Tottenham Hotspur and England, setting club and country records during a prolific 2022-23 season, Kane will turn 30 this summer without having won a major title.

The 29-year-old scored 30 goals in the last Premier League season, but Spurs' otherwise dismal campaign saw them finish ninth and miss out on Europe for the first time since 2009.

Kane's contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is coming to an end, and while Daniel Levy is battling tooth and nail to keep him, the Spurs chairman is unlikely to risk losing the striker for nothing in 2024.

Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be keeping an eye on developments, and Levy is said to prefer selling to a foreign club over bolstering one of Spurs' Premier League rivals.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is alleged to have notified Florentino Perez and general manager Jose Angel Sanchez of his desire to work with Kane, but the England captain's present preference is to stay in England as he seeks to break Alan Shearer's Premier League goal scoring record.

Los Blancos, on the other hand, have compiled a list of backup possibilities in case Kane's desire to stay in England prevails, and the 29-year-old is considered to be just one of six names under consideration.

Victor Osimhen of Napoli is also on the list, although Real have baulked at the Italian champions' £140 million asking price, while Atalanta BC teenager Rasmus Hojlund may be available for £100 million less.

Chelsea's Kai Havertz, who turned down Real Madrid to join the Blues three years ago, could also be handed a way out of Stamford Bridge, but he has struggled to impress on a regular basis in the Premier League.

Real would be allowed to acquire Liverpool's Roberto Firmino on a free transfer, while Espanyol's Joselu is already rumoured to have negotiated a summer move to the Bernabeu, but he will be a backup option to a big-money signing.

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