REAL Madrid are lining up Romelu Lukaku as a replacement for the ageing Karim Benzema, reports claim.
The Belgian only joined Inter Milan one year ago, when he brought his two-year stint at Manchester United to an end.
Lukaku has scored 33 times this seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
But having bounced back impressively in Italy, he finds himself a target of Europe’s elite clubs once again.
According to Le10 Sport, Lukaku is one of four strikers on Real Madrid’s wishlist as they search for a long-term replacement for Benzema.
The report also claims, however, that he is not their No1 target to fill the spot.
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and emerging Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland are ahead of the ex-Premier League forward in their pecking order.
Sadio Mane, like Lukaku, is a secondary target of Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The Belgian, however, still has one more match left to play before his mind can turn to any potential transfer speculation.
And as well as the Europa League trophy, history could be on the line for the 27-year-old.
Should he score in Friday’s final against Sevilla, he will match his idol Ronaldo’s 22-year-old record for most goals in a debut season for the Nerazzurri.
And should he net twice, taking his overall tally for the season up to 35, he will earn the record outright.
On the Brazilian whose record he could beat, Lukaku purred in an interview with ESPN: “Ronaldo changed football. He was the one you would look at.
Kylian Mbappe is also on Real Madrid’s wishlistCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“You would see him doing step-overs and you were thinking: ‘Who does this?’ You would see defenders falling over and you were like, ‘Wow.’
“The goals that he scored, and at crucial times. He scored goals where you were like, ‘Oh man, this is not serious’.
“He changed the dimension of a striker. He was fast, he can dribble like a winger, run like a sprinter, he was as strong as an ox.”
Erling Haaland has impressed in his first few months with DortmundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Romelu Lukaku reveals Man Utd boss Solskjaer wanted him to STAY but ‘I didn’t have the energy’ before Inter transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
