Rumour Has It: Real Madrid must choose between Haaland and Benzema

Haaland
has
scored
78
goals
in
his
two
years
with
Dortmund
–
only
Robert
Lewandowski
(107)
has
more
in
Europe’s
top
five
leagues
–
and
would
be
a
major
coup
for
Madrid.

But
while
the
Spanish
giants
remain
confident
of
bringing
in
the
in-demand
striker
from
Dortmund,
it
could
have
a
negative
knock-on
effect.

TOP
STORY
–
HAALAND
IN,
BENZEMA
OUT?

Karim
Benzema
is
a
much-loved
figure
at
the
Santiago
Bernabeu
and
is
enjoying
another
impressive
campaign,
but
El
Nacional
claims
that
Madrid
risk
losing
the
Frenchman.

The
report
suggests
that
Benzema
does
not
like
the
fact
that
president
Florentino
Perez
is
so
fixated
on
bringing
in
a
new
player
to
lead
Los
Blancos’ attack
from
next
season.

While
the
34-year
is
not
currently
seeking
an
exit,
that
could
change
should
Madrid
reach
a
pre-contract
agreement
with
Haaland
in
the
coming
weeks,
as
has
been
suggested.

Benzema
would
not
feel
the
need
to
move
on
should

Kylian
Mbappe
join,
though,
as
he
considers
that
case
to
be
different
given
the

PSG
striker
is
set
to
become
a
free
agent.

ROUND-UP

–

Barcelona
accept
that
it
is
increasingly
likely

Ousmane
Dembele
will
leave
Camp
Nou
as
a
free
agent
at
the
end
of
the
season.
According
to
Sport,

Manchester
United
and

Juventus
have
held
talks
with
the
player’s
camp,
while

Chelsea
and

Bayern
Munich
have
an
outside
shot
of
signing
the
forward.

–

Arsenal
have
made
their
first
move
to
sign

Dusan
Vlahovic
from

Fiorentina,
with
Corriere
Della
Sera
reporting
that
the
Gunners
have
tabled
an
offer
of
£50million
(€60m)
plus

Lucas
Torreira,
who
is
currently
on
loan
with
the
Serie
A
side.

–

Chelsea
are
interested
in
signing

Layvin
Kurzawa
on
loan
as
they
look
to
bolster
their
full-back
ranks.
However,
Fabrizio
Romano
claims
that
the
Blues
have
not
yet
officially
opened
talks
with

PSG.

–
Calciomercato
reports
that

Man
Utd
forward

Anthony
Martial
has
emerged
as
a
January
target
for

Juventus.
The
France
international
has
struggled
for
games
this
season
and
has
openly
admitted
he
wants
to
find
a
new
club
this
month.

–

Everton
are
on
the
lookout
for
a
new
manager
after
parting
company
with

Rafael
Benitez
on
Sunday
and
hope
to
make
a
swift
appointment.
According
to
ESPN,
former
boss

Roberto
Martinez
–
now
in
charge
of
the
Belgium
national
team
–
is
the
leading
candidate
to
take
over.

–

Newcastle
United
have
already
brought
in

Kieran
Trippier
and

Chris
Wood
this
window,
but
The
Telegraph
reports
that
they
have
been
knocked
back
in
their
bid
to
bring
in

Donny
van
de
Beek
on
loan.
The

Man
Utd
midfielder
is
said
to
have
been
put
off
by
the
Magpies’ position
in
the
Premier
League.