Real Madrid are reportedly keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison.
The 25-year-old moved to North London from Everton in a deal worth around £60m last summer, penning a five-year contract until 2027.
However, Richarlison has endured an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign and has been reduced to just nine starts under Antonio Conte across all competitions, scoring just two goals which both came in a 2-0 Champions League group-stage win over Marseille back in September.
According to ESPN, Real Madrid have identified the Brazil international as a potential target ahead of the summer transfer window, although they may find it difficult to prise the forward away from Spurs after joining the club less than 12 months ago.
The report adds that the La Liga giants view the addition of a new forward as "essential" ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
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Real Madrid were unable to lure Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain last summer and they entered this season with 35-year-old Karim Benzema as their main striker.
However, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner has struggled with injuries this term, leaving Los Blancos light in attack and Brazilian winger Rodrygo having to play centrally on numerous occasions, while Mariano Diaz appears to be surplus to requirements.
As a result, Carlo Ancelotti's side have not been firing on all cylinders in La Liga, drawing a blank in front of goal in four of their last nine top-flight matches, while they have failed to score at least three goals in a single league game sine the end of October.
Real Madrid's struggles in attack have also allowed Barcelona to open up an 11-point lead at the top of the La Liga table, albeit with a game in hand.
With eyes on a potential summer swoop for a new forward, Richarlison is not the only name said to be on Real Madrid's radar, as ESPN also claims that they are monitoring Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic.
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The 23-year-old has scored 18 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions for the Italian giants since arriving from Fiorentina in January 2022, including nine goals in 19 games during an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign.
Vlahovic is under contract with Juve until the summer of 2026, but it is thought that the Serbian striker is one of many players who face an uncertain future in Turin after the club were deducted 15 points in Serie A following an investigation into their past transfer dealings.
Real Madrid may face stern competition for Vlahovic's services, though, as a report last month claims that the striker has already been offered to a host of European clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and PSG.
Los Blancos are also understood to have an interest in Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman, Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi and Napoli's Victor Osimhen.
Oliver Thomas
