Real Madrid consider signing Benzema replacement Real Madrid Meeting between Florentino and Zidane

After 12 days of reflection, meetings have returned as normal in the offices of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and the first has seen discussions which could lead to the signing of a new number nine for Real Madrid.

Based on analysis from the coach and his staff regarding the defeat against Barcelona and in the transfer market, Florentino Perez, Jose Angel Sanchez and Zinedine Zidane have decided to look for players who could compete with the BBC.

It could be a player who could also rotate with the likes of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez in a wider role, but the priority must be that he is a player who adds presence and threat in the box.

Zidane continues to defend his current squad, but for the first time he has publicly admitted that his eyes are open to any options that could appear in the transfer market.

For the coach, Karim Benzema is the first choice centre forward, but he will not rule out the signing of another central striker this January transfer window.

The pool of option is limited, particularly given that many of the top targets cannot play in the Champions League having been cup-tied, which is a key objective for the club.

Key names being discussed are Mauro Icardi from Inter and Alexis Sanchez.

Two other possibilities under consideration are Timo Werner and Harry Kane, but their clubs are not prepared to negotiate and they would not be able to play in the Champions League.

If there are doubts about Kane's ability to adapt to Spanish football, the German has problems with his hearing which has caused issues this season such as away at Besiktas.

That said, Werner remains the most likely of the two to arrive in Madrid this month.

The major issue for Real Madrid is the cost, with Inter already trying to tie down Icardi on a new deal after demanding 100 million euros.