Real Madrid might shift their focus to Erling Haaland as the chances of signing Kylian Mbappe seem increasingly slim.
The saga between Mbappe and Real Madrid has been ongoing for quite some time, with the player currently free to negotiate with clubs outside France as his contract expires in the summer.
According to Diario AS, the Manchester City striker would eagerly join Real Madrid immediately if given the chance, and could do so for a relatively modest fee of $109.5 million (€100 million) if Los Blancos activate his release clause at that value.
Haaland made his move to the Premier League giants in 2022, when they similarly met the required fee of $65.6 million (€60 million) to release him from his Borussia Dortmund contract.
His first season in Manchester was nothing short of sensational, breaking numerous goal-scoring records and aiding Pep Guardiola's team in achieving a treble, including their first-ever Champions League victory for both player and club, eliminating defending champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Currently, both European powerhouses are still contenders for the coveted trophy in the 2023/2024 season and could potentially clash again in the latter stages of the tournament.
However, Madrid is already looking to bolster their squad for the upcoming campaign, regardless of their performance under recently renewed head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
President Florentino Perez has already presented a proposal to Kylian Mbappe, who is set to become a free agent at Paris Saint-Germain after June 30. Haaland is being considered as a potential 'Plan B' for Madrid.
With the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo gradually coming to an end, Haaland and Mbappe are seen as the leading stars of the next generation.
The publication claimed that Real Madrid has received positive news regarding Haaland's release clause, previously thought to be $219 million (€200 million). Information obtained by the newspaper suggests this fee applies only to Premier League clubs, with the value reduced by half to a more feasible $109 million (€100 million) for any potential suitors outside the British Isles.