Real Madrid have already upgraded their defense by signing starting-caliber Premier League studs Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back and Dean Huijsen at center back.
They’ve even landed the next big thing in terms of young South American prospects from the Juni Calafat tree, as Franco Mastantuono is all but official as the next Real Madrid gem.
So Real’s upcoming focus on the summer transfer market is a goal-scoring striker: a steely veteran who finds the back of the net and does nothing else but find the back of the net as the Merengue No. 9.
They have been wanting to target a profile similar to that of Joselu, who was a reliable source of goals off the bench or in games when an out-and-out striker was needed. Without his heroics against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid would not have won the 2023/24 Champions League title.
Real Madrid need to submit a slightly bumped counter offer
Their focus has turned to one of the leading goal-scorers in LaLiga last season, Osasuna’ Ante Budimir, who also used to torment the Real Madrid defense a few years ago at underdogs Mallorca.
According to a report from Hector Andreu of Spanish transfer outlet Fichajes, Real Madrid have just tabled a fresh transfer offer to Osasuna for Budimir of just three million euros, but they have added a sweetener of loaning them a very promising academy prospect (though Real would retain rights over the player).
Osasuna reportedly and understandably don’t want to sell the 33-year-old Croatian star striker for that little, as Budimir is very important to Osasuna and their efforts to qualify for European football.
Last season, Budimir scored a stunning 21 goals and even snuck in 4 assists for Osasuna, as the boys from Pamplona finished ninth and were, once again, contenders to make it to Europe.
Budimir is a pure scorer with a deft touch and eagle-eye finishing, seemingly getting better and better with age. He’s not quite at the level of Joselu physically or in his all-around play, but the scary thing is that his off-ball movement and finishing might be even better than the Spanish Real Madrid icon’s.
Real Madrid don’t have a whole lot of realistic fits for the No. 9 profile who can come in and replicate 20 goals, so Budimir is a proven option in Spanish football who can make things count.
Since he’s older, Real Madrid won’t have to pay much more than the three million euros they just offered to Osasuna. With a little bit more persuasion and even some pressure from Budimir to follow in his countryman Luka Modric’s footsteps as a Real Madrid, Los Blancos should be able to seal this deal without too much trouble.
Joe Soriano is the Site Expert for Hotspur HQ and a Contributor around FanSided Soccer who has extensive experience covering world soccer. He has also covered pro wrestling, baseball, and American football, even co-authoring the baseball book “Cincinnati Reds IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom”. Joe was a Site Expert at The Real Champs covering Real Madrid as a dedicated writer from 2019 to 2022. Joe has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.