THIS season has been far from ordinary for Real Madrid.
The Spanish and European champions are used to being at the sharp end of every competition they enter.
Yet this season Zinedine Zidane’s men are a massive 14 points behind fierce rivals Barcelona in La Liga. They will not defend their title from last term.
In the Champions League they lead Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 from the first leg of their last-16 tie. But there is a long way to go in Paris next week.
A dramatic overhaul of Zidane’s squad is expected this summer in order to avoid a repeat and the striking department expected to receive overdue attention.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane has been reported as a Real transfer target since the two clubs met in the Champions League group stages.
But, according to fresh reports, Los Blancos have given up hope of signing the England international in favour of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.
So does that spell the end of Real’s interest in Kane? We asked our friends at Football Whispers to examine the situation.
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Real Madrid are famed for their Galactico policy. No club in European football prioritises signing global stars more than Los Blancos; it is part of their identity as the continent’s biggest club.
However, Zidane was already happy with his squad last summer and opted to bring in a handful of young prospects to supplement the side.
Midfielder Dani Ceballos arrived from Real Betis after impressing for Spain at the Under-21 European Championships while Theo Hernandez, who shone on loan at Alaves, joined from city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Those were the only truly new additions to Zidane’s squad.
Jesus Vallejo and Marcos Llorente returned from loan spells while Achraf Hakimi was promoted from Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s second string.
That put the onus on Borja Mayoral – who scored twice in 19 Bundesliga outings on loan at Wolfsburg last term – to support the famous BBC of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo as Alvaro Morata and Mariano had been sold to Chelsea and Lyon respectively.
Mayoral, just 20, has been entrusted to start just two La Liga fixtures this term, scoring once. It is clear Zidane does not think the Parla native is ready to deputise on a regular basis.
But alternatives to the BBC are desperately needed.
Ronaldo, at 33, is slowing down and enduring his worst goal-scoring season domestically in nine seasons at the Bernabeu.
His return of 14 strikes in 20 league starts would be a good ratio by most players’ standards.
But Ronaldo is not most players and it continues the trend of decline which has been evident in the last four seasons.
Ronaldo remains without equal in Europe, netting 11 in just seven Champions League starts, but eventually Los Merengues will have to contemplate a future without their talisman.
On the other side of the front three, Bale will be moved on this summer.
Real have grown tired of the Manchester United transfer target’s fitness woes and will cut their losses at the season’s end.
Benzema, meanwhile, cannot enjoy the protection of president Florentino Perez forever.
The 30-year-old has just four league goals to his name this term and is on course for his lowest tally since bagging eight in 2009/10.
He has been linked with a return to France recently.
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Taking all those factors into consideration, Real’s need for a forward of Lewandowski’s calibre is clear.
The Bayern Munich hitman has grabbed 30 Bundesliga strikes in each of the last two seasons and is on course to reach that number again this term.
The Pole has long been linked with Real and recently left his agents of ten years, Cezary Kucharski and Maik Barthel, to sign with the renowned Pin Zahavi in the hope of securing a move to the Spanish capital.
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But at 29 Lewandowski is not the long-term solution either. Kane is five years his junior and could lead Real Madrid’s frontline for years to come.
Real’s thirst for superstars is as relentless as their will to win silverware.
They may have cooled their interest for now, but they will return.
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