Real Madrid will again have Karim Benzema at the tip of their attack next season, while Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that he could use Eden Hazard as a false nine in 2022-23.
However, the La Liga and European champions are short of options at centre-forward ahead of the new campaign, with Luka Jovic moving on, while Mariano Diaz and Borja Mayoral are being linked with exits.
Ancelotti recently insisted that Real Madrid's summer transfer business was complete, but it would not be a surprise to see them sign a low-cost forward if both Mariano and Mayoral leave.
According to journalist Anton Meana, the capital giants are keeping an eye on the striker market and could move for a player who is prepared to be largely a substitute next season.
With that in mind, Sports Mole identifies three centre-forwards that would be of interest to the capital side before the end of the transfer window.
Moussa Dembele (Lyon)
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Manchester United and Arsenal continue to be linked with Moussa Dembele, with the 26-year-old potentially available in a low-cost deal during this summer's transfer window.
The Frenchman enjoyed an impressive 2021-22 campaign for Lyon, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions in 36 appearances in all competitions, in addition to contributing five assists.
Dembele has entered the final 12 months of his contract, though, and there have been strong rumours that he could be sold for the right price during the summer market.
Since arriving at Lyon from Celtic in August 2018, he has represented the French side on 143 occasions in all competitions, scoring 67 goals and providing 18 assists.
Dembele would surely have no issue accepting a substitute role at Bernabeu, and he could prove to be a smart acquisition for Real Madrid considering his impressive scoring record at Fulham, Celtic and Lyon, although he did struggle to make his mark on loan at Atletico Madrid in 2021.
Jonathan David (Lille)
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Lille will find it difficult to keep hold of Jonathan David beyond the end of this summer's transfer window, with the Canada international impressing for his French club last season.
The 22-year-old scored 19 goals in 47 appearances last term, including three strikes in the Champions League, proving that he can operate at the highest level of European football.
David still has more than three years left to run on his contract at Lille, but there remains a host of speculation surrounding his future, with Man United and Arsenal also said to be admirers.
It would be fair to assume that the Canadian would be more expensive than Dembele, but Real Madrid would not have to break the bank for the striker, who would have the space and time to grow and mature at the club.
David has scored 32 goals and registered five assists in 95 appearances for Lille, while he has netted 21 times in 32 outings for his country.
Andrea Belotti (Torino)
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Andrea Belotti is available on a free transfer this summer, with the striker's contract at Torino expiring at the end of June.
The Italy international enjoyed a strong 2021-22 campaign for his Italian side, scoring eight times and registering one assist in 23 appearances in all competitions.
Meanwhile, he netted 113 goals and registered 28 assists in 251 appearances for Torino, and there has been a host of speculation surrounding his future in recent weeks.
Belotti has also scored 12 times in 44 caps for Italy, and he would be a low-cost and experienced option for Real Madrid in the final third of the field.
Like Dembele and David, the Italian would not have a problem accepting that he would not be first choice at Real Madrid, and he could be the ideal replacement for Jovic next term.
There are currently no indications that Real Madrid are interested, but with the Spanish outfit now seemingly considering bringing in a new forward, a deal for Belotti is not impossible.
Matt Law
