Real Madrid will reportedly target a move for 27-year-old Spanish striker Raul de Tomas if Erling Haaland does not arrive in the summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Raul de Tomas is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 27-year-old Espanyol striker, who has a €70 million release clause, has emerged as a potential alternative to Erling Haaland.
Raul de Tomas has blossomed into a solid striker since leaving Real Madrid in July 2019. The Spanish forward first joined Benfica three years ago but has grown in stature since moving to Espanyol in January 2020. The 27-year-old successfully guided the Catalan club back to La Liga last season and has been a reliable performer for them this term.
The Real Madrid academy product has a solid tally of 15 goals and three assists in 31 La Liga outings in the ongoing campaign. And his exploits have not gone unnoticed, with some of the most high profile clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, setting their sights on him.
Real Madrid will delve into the market for a striker in the summer transfer window amid rampant uncertainties surrounding the futures of Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz. The two out-of-favour strikers will depart from the Santiago Bernabeu ahead of the 2022/23 season, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with Karim Benzema as the only natural centre-forward at his disposal.
As a result, Erling Haaland had emerged as a priority target for Real Madrid, with Los Blancos identifying the Borussia Dortmund striker as a long-term successor for Benzema. But recent reports have claimed that Manchester City might be leading the race to sign Haaland, prompting Real Madrid to scour the market for alternatives.
Raul de Tomas has thus emerged on his former club’s radar, with the 27-year-old being the ideal candidate to replace Jovic and Mariano. The Spanish striker has a €70 million release clause in his Espanyol contract. But the report has claimed that a deal could be struck between €30 million and €40 million, making him an attractive target for Real Madrid.
It will be interesting to see if the Merengues turn their attention away from Erling Haaland for good. With Real Madrid confident of signing Kylian Mbappe, investing in a striker like Raul de Tomas might be a step in the right direction, considering the Frenchman can also play as a centre-forward.