MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 04:03:31| >> :120:22633:22633:

Real Madrid 'identify Lautaro Martinez as Harry Kane alternative'

Real Madrid 'identify Lautaro Martinez as Harry Kane alternative'
© Reuters
Real Madrid reportedly earmark Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez as a possible alternative to Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane as they seek to replace Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid could reportedly turn their attention to Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez if their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane ends in failure.

The La Liga giants were not expected to be in the market for a new striker until 2024, as Karim Benzema was thought to have been on the verge of signing a new one-year deal.

However, in an unforeseen turn of events, the Ballon d'Or winner ended a trophy-laden 14 years at the Bernabeu to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract.

With Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz and Eden Hazard also heading for the exit door, Carlo Ancelotti has been left short of options in the final third, where Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are currently holding the fort.

Joselu is expected to join the capital outfit on a season-long loan from Espanyol, but the former Newcastle United man will likely only be a backup to a big-name centre-forward.

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez celebrates scoring a disallowed goal on November 22, 2022© Reuters

Spurs striker and England captain Kane is rumoured to be Real Madrid's number one attacking target, with the 29-year-old out of contract next summer and still awaiting his first piece of silverware.

While Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to sell his star man, he would supposedly prefer to do business with a foreign club rather than strengthen one of the Lilywhites' Premier League rivals.

Real are reportedly set to try their luck with a £68m proposal, but Levy is expected to hold out for at least £100m, and Kane is thought to be pining for a move to Manchester United as he hunts down Alan Shearer at the top of the Premier League scoring charts.

Should Real Madrid's proposed move for Kane fall through, The Athletic - via The Mirror - reports that Inter Milan and Argentina marksman Martinez has emerged as a possible alternative.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed another prolific season in Nerazzurri colours with 28 goals and 11 assists in 56 games across all competitions, including 21 strikes in 38 Serie A matches.

Lautaro Martinez in action for Inter Milan on October 12, 2022© Reuters

Martinez has also contributed three goals and three assists in 12 Champions League games for Simone Inzaghi's side, who face Manchester City in Saturday's final in Istanbul.

The former Racing Club attacker has been linked with a move away from San Siro for some time, but he temporarily quietened speculation over his future in 2021 by penning a new long-term contract, which expires in 2026.

However, Martinez is once again being tipped to seek pastures new in the upcoming window, and the report adds that a fee of £70m could convince Inter to sell the Argentina international.

As is the case with Real Madrid, though, Man United are believed to be keeping tabs on Martinez's future if they are also unsuccessful in their pursuit of Kane, but Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has claimed that he can envisage Martinez captaining the Nerazzurri one day, seemingly dealing both teams an early transfer blow.

Martinez boasts a total of 102 goals and 36 assists in 237 matches for Inter since 2018 and is expected to start alongside ex-Man City striker Edin Dzeko in Saturday's European final.

ID:515909:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6854:

Lautaro Martinez future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Harry Kane

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane claps the fans on May 20, 2023
Read Next:
Three forwards Real Madrid could target to replace Karim Benzema
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!