Real Madrid targeting Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas
By Ryan Plant
There is just over a week to go until La Liga’s transfer window slams shut, and Real Madrid has not replaced Cristiano Ronaldo. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are Julen Lopetegui’s only credible options to lead his forward line as it stands, but reports suggest that Florentino Perez wants to bring in a striker.
Real Madrid is interested in signing Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas after their interest in Valencia’s Rodrigo Moreno cooled, according to El Chiringuito de Jugones’s Jose Alvarez.
The former Liverpool forward has a €40 million release clause and can play as a central striker, in an attacking midfield role or out wide.
The 31-year-old scored 24 La Liga goals in 34 appearances last season, including hat-tricks against Las Palmas and Sevilla, and made five assists.
He scored a late equaliser as Spain drew 2-2 with Morocco at the World Cup this summer, but saw his penalty saved as Fernando Hierro’s side crashed out at the round-of-16 stage against the tournament’s hosts, Russia, in a shootout defeat.
He is willing to drop deep, receive the ball in tight spaces and carry the ball; he suited Celta’s counter-attacking approach, a style similar to that of Lopetegui’s.
Neymar and Harry Kane, amongst others, have been linked with moves to the Spanish capital to match Ronaldo’s incredible goal contribution, but a Galactico signing is not entirely necessary.
If Lopetegui can find a way of supplementing Bale, who has endured injury-hit seasons in recent years but scored against Getafe last time out, and Benzema in forward areas with players like Aspas, Marco Asensio or Isco, then Real’s goal tally compared to last season should not be as inferior as Los Blancos’ fans initially feared.
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Rodrigo, however, is a more traditional striker and looks to play on the shoulder of the last man and get in behind, using his pace – if Bale is to have more of an impact at the Santiago Bernabeu this season as the team’s main goal threat in the absence of Ronaldo, Aspas would, surely, suit better.
That said, he would prove to be an expensive substitute because Benzema has enjoyed a bright start to the season so far – he scored against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup final defeat and played the full 90-minutes against Getafe.
Approaching the later years of his career, Aspas probably would not be willing to play second fiddle, which begs the question: is Borja Mayoral a good enough backup striker?
Perhaps Perez and Real’s management should learn to promote from within in the forward areas more often – Mariano Diaz scored 18 goals for Lyon last season after Zinedine Zidane deemed him surplus to requirements.