'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Following their El Clasico humiliation at home for the third consecutive season, Real Madrid are set to bolster their squad with attacking talent as they look to reel in Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga title race.
According to Sky Sports and Marca, Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is one of the capital club's primary targets. The Argentina international currently has a contract with the Italian club until 2021.
The club are also looking to increase his current release clause to €130m (£115.3m).
Trending
In case you didn't know...
The 24-year-old shot to fame when he scored 26 goals last season for the Nerazzurri. He looks all set to eclipse that tally this season having already scored 17 thus far in Serie A alone.
He currently leads the Serie A goal scoring charts with only Lazio's Ciro Immobile (16 goals) and Juventus' Paulo Dybala (12 goals) anywhere close to competing with him for the Serie A Golden Boot (also known as Capocannoniere).
Heart of the matter
Real Madrid have struggled to get going in La Liga this season and currently lie in fourth place - 14 points behind league leaders Barcelona. Although they have a game in hand owing to their participation in the Club World Cup, the points gap seems insurmountable at this stage after the Clasico loss.
Also read: Records and milestones from Barcelona's 3-0 win over Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has only managed to score two goals in La Liga from 12 games while the top scorer in the squad is shared by Cristiano Ronaldo, Marco Asensio, and Isco - all have scored just four goals each.
Which is why targeting a striker in January could now be Real's top priority as La Liga goes into a winter break.
Video: Mauro Icardi's highlights this season
Author's take
Real desperately need goals and Icardi is the ideal player to have in the box. A no.9 who thrives on good service, he can be quite lethal. His presence and runs into the box would keep centre-backs busy and allow Cristiano Ronaldo to exploit that space and freedom to use his conversion rate to good effect.
With the likes of Neymar, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe breaking the £100m transfer fee barrier, it is only a matter of time before Real break their club transfer record of £86m they paid for Gareth Bale.
