After the confirmation that Karim Benzema will be joining Saudi club Al Ittihad, how can Real Madrid replace their second-highest goalscorer of all time?
It will be no easy feat, and Real will have to dig into their pockets and spend some serious money. Kai Havertz and Harry Kane are the two names that have been frequently mentioned until now, but the summer has just begun and there will certainly be other names linked in the remainder of the transfer window.
So could Havertz or Kane replace Benzema? They are two very different players, with very different goalscoring records. Havertz has been at Chelsea for three years, playing 139 games, scoring 32 goals. Kane on the other hand has scored 279 goals in 428 games for Tottenham.
Kane is an out-and-out striker, who guarantees goals. He also works for the good of the whole team and not just himself, very similar to how Benzema plays. Havertz is not a traditional striker, and despite his tall frame, he does not possess a true presence in the box.
Chelsea’s German forward is however only 23, and a very versatile player. He can as a false, on the left, the right, and also in an attacking midfield role. This is the primary reason why Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti are showing an interest in him. He would be far less expensive than Kane, who Daniel Levy will want a big fee for.
Kane is the standout candidate to replace Benzema, but the biggest issue may not even be his price. The Englishman is 48 goals away from being the outright highest scorer of all time in the Premier League. Having already dedicated 10 years to Tottenham, and being so close to the record, he may not want to leave England.
Japtej Ghura | GSFN
