Mauro Icardi could become a transfer target for Real Madrid next week should the club complete a deal to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Icardi has a €110 million release clause in his contract which is valid for overseas clubs until 15 July, and is yet to begin talks with the Nerazzurri over a new deal, meaning that the club are powerless to stop their star striker from moving abroad during the next eight days should he wish to do so.
TuttoMercatoWeb believe Ronaldo’s imminent arrival in Turin will cause a domino effect in the market concerning the rest of Europe’s forward players, with Real Madrid on the lookout for a suitable replacement.
Club president Florentino Perez has identified Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as his number one transfer target should the Portuguese forward leave but he could look to sign a centre-forward too, with Icardi and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowsi thought to be top of his wish list.
“Hazard would not be the only player to come in and Perez could look to Italy for his next arrival,” they wrote on Saturday. “Real are also looking for a world class striker and Mauro Icardi would represent the younger option, with Inter having already fixed a price for him through his release clause.
“The more experienced option meanwhile would be Robert Lewandowski, who already has 45 goals in the UEFA Champions League to his name.”