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If Real Madrid end up moving Sami Khedira before his contract expires at season's end, Lucas Silva is emerging as a potential replacement option. The Brazilian rising star confirmed he would love to join the Spanish side if given the opportunity.

Marca spoke with the Cruzeiro midfielder about the links to a Bernabeu move. He said simply being in that type of conversation made him proud and stated that if the sides were able to work out a transfer agreement, he would complete the switch.

"Of course I'd like to play for Real Madrid, it would be an honour. But for that to happen, an agreement between the clubs would need to be put in place first," Silva said. "I'm a Cruzeiro player and have so much respect for my club. If a club like Real Madrid came along, I wouldn't turn them down."

The comments come one day after the outlet's Carlos Carpio reported Real were working diligently to identify possible additions to slide into Khedira's role. The 21-year-old Brazil youth international is the coveted target.

"While Sami Khedira's future is looking increasingly shaky with no contract renewal in sight and 30th June drawing ever closer, Real Madrid have not been idle and have, in fact, pretty much decided which player they would like to step into the German midfielder's position," Carpio wrote.

Silva's role with Cruzeiro has steadily increased over the past few years. He's handled the added pressure well, proving himself as a valuable member of the midfield and a player who should soon start getting called up to the senior national team.

Although he's flashed some playmaking potential, his best work so far has come in a defensive or box-to-box midfield role. He's proved reliable in the defensive third, a great sign for a young player, and regularly jump-starts attacks from the back.

The question is how quickly he would be ready to step into Khedira's role. His experience is still relatively limited, and facing off against La Liga and European competition would be a major step up from his current efforts with Cruzeiro.

While the potential is there for him to develop into a key cog in the midfield for Real, reaching that level could still be a couple of terms away. There would be obvious risk associated with becoming too reliant on him at this stage of his career.

That said, if Real's interest is legitimate, they probably can't afford to wait as hype begins to build. They are best served signing him at the first available opportunity before the price skyrockets and then deciding how to handle his usage.

At least they know Silva is excited about the possibility of playing for the club.