Real Madrid are contemplating bringing in a forward in the January transfer window and according to L’Équipe, Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi is the big favourite. That was the conclusion after the men in charge of such matters - Zinedine Zidane, Florentino Pérez and general director, José Ángel Sánchez held a meeting following the Christmas holidays.

Icardi and Werner on Madrid's agenda

According to the French daily, Madrid have been in contact with Icardi and with Leipzig striker Timo Werner. Icardi is under contract until 2021 while Werner, who has also drawn interest from Liverpool, is tied to the German side until June 2020.

L’Équipe however, report that during that meeting, Zidane made it clear that Karim Benzema is still his first choice centre-forward - which means that it would be very difficult to convince either of the two candidates to sign for Madrid halfway through the season only to warm the bench.

Full screen STRINGER (REUTERS)

Icardi has scored 17 league goals in 21 games for Inter this season and is the leading goal scorer in Serie A ahead of Lazio's Ciro Immobile. His market value is estimated to be around 75 million euros.

Werner meanwhile, has found the net 12 times in 23 games and would be ineligible to play in this season's Champions League because he's already appeared for Leipzig, who were eliminated at the group stage and face Napoli in the Europa League Round of 32.