Real Madrid have reportedly made Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero their “top priority” for the summer transfer window, as club president Florentino Perez is determined to add another Galactico to his impressive collection.

That’s according to BuzzSport (h/t Metro‘s Mark Brus), who believe the Argentina international could be a replacement for longtime starter Karim Benzema. Brus adds City will be unlikely to part with the star, although Real have a tendency to land whichever top player they go after.

Aguero‘s well-documented injury history has always been a concern, and the 2015-16 campaign has been no different. The 27-year-old has missed a large portion of the season with yet another setback, per Transfermarkt.co.uk.

It’s a shame the former Atletico Madrid man’s career has seen so many setbacks in the injury department, as he’s undoubtedly one of the best forwards in the world when healthy. His instincts and finishing ability inside the box are virtually unmatched, to the point Ladbrokes had to make this joke when it became clear he’s in line to start against Arsenal:

Per WhoScored.com, he has scored seven goals in nine Premier League starts this season, and last year, he contributed 26 goals and eight assists in 30 starts. Those are impressive numbers, and it’s easy to see why Los Blancos would be interested in a player with such production.

Benzema is an excellent striker in his own right, but his future remains uncertain in the wake of the ongoing blackmail investigation involving Olympique Lyonnais‘ Mathieu Valbuena. According to Selina Sykes of the Daily Express, the striker could face up to five years in prison if he is found guilty.

In terms of pure scoring potential, Aguero would be a worthy replacement, but his lengthy injury history does complicate matters. For all of his shortcomings, Benzema has always been incredibly dependable, both in terms of injuries and consistency.

Los Blancos have gotten used to such a standard, and they may choose to look a different way when they do decide to pick a replacement. Other top strikers like Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won’t be more expensive than Aguero, and they may be safer bets in the transfer market.

 

Ante Coric Reportedly Rejects Move

Teenage starlet Ante Coric has reportedly rejected a move to the Bernabeu because he fears he won’t receive enough playing time, per Goal’s Hrvoje Tironi.

The Dinamo Zagreb star seemed set to move to the Spanish capital, but following the struggles of young stars like Martin Odegaard and Lucas Silva, who have barely played for Los Blancos, he appears to have changed his mind.

The 18-year-old playmaker is quickly making a name for himself in Croatia, and it’s easy to see why scouts from a number of European top teams are following him:

Croatia has become something of a hotbed for talented central midfielders, and Los Blancos are already paying the wages of two of them: veteran star Luka Modric and talented youngster Mateo Kovacic.

Per Tironi, Coric has already confirmed he intends to leave Zagreb in January, and it remains to be seen where he will end up. If playing time is such a priority for him, the links with Real never made sense to begin with.

Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic both moved from Dinamo to Inter Milan to further their careers, and for Coric, a similar path may not be a bad idea. The Nerazzurri seem willing to trust their young talent if they show enough promise in training, and thanks to the increased exposure of the Serie A, the club can be an excellent springboard for bigger and better things.

Real boast enough young talent in midfield to survive getting snubbed by Coric. He’s an excellent young player, but with the likes of Marco Asensio even forced to go out on loan to help their development, Los Blancos are already set for the future in the midfield area.

 

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