3 things Real Madrid can do if they miss out on Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland

Go for short-term targets

There will always be a new talent on the rise in football, who’ll be hailed as generational talents by many. Now Haaland and Mbappe might be the current youngsters to be hailed as generational talents. But in two to three years, there will be some other teenager on the rise, who’ll be hailed as the next big thing. We can’t say if that player can be of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s potential, but there will always be new prospects. It’s a cycle that keeps going on and on.

If Real Madrid fails to sign Haaland or Mbappe, then they’ll wait for the next fresh talent. But in the process of waiting, they can look forward to plan for the near future, and make short-term signings who are experienced, to keep the club stable and competitive. Three such players who are realistic short-term targets are Mohammed Salah, Riyad Mahrez, and Real’s former superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Salah and Mahrez can solve the right-wing issue as an immediate solution, while Cristiano Ronaldo can offer goals, which have been lacking at Real Madrid after his exit. Salah reportedly wants to leave Liverpool in the summer, while Mahrez has already been linked with a move to Real Madrid. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is still the best player out there, but he doesn’t have age on his side. Salah and Mahrez can offer a good three seasons, but the same cannot be guaranteed by the 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, not to forget his astronomical wages. So he should really be the least preferred option. The club wouldn’t want to get back to the era of overdependence on Ronaldo, but they would definitely consider the idea of Cristiano as a quick fix.