5 players Real Madrid should have targeted in January

#1 Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)

Icardi would have been a perfect January signing for Real Madrid

Where should we start on Karim Benzema? Often made the scapegoat for Real Madrid's struggles, Benzema has truly struggled for form this season. He has not been threatening in front of goal and his ability to bring others into play has also not been great either.

The decision to keep faith in the Frenchman has baffled many and hence, bringing in a striker should have been the top priority for Real Madrid. And who better at the moment than Mauro Icardi! The Argentinian is in the form of his life and with 18 league goals to his name already, Icardi has more league goals than the BBC combined.

Icardi is a clinical finisher - exactly the kind of player that Madrid were crying out for. He was also ready to join them in January with Jorge Sampaoli, Argentina's manager claiming that the striker was tempted by Madrid's interest. But the Spanish side never made any concrete bid for the striker who could have solved their biggest issue at the moment - a player who could score goals in crunch situations.