Real Madrid Transfer News: Thomas Muller Tipped to Signal Karim Benzema Exit

It’s difficult for any player on the planet to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo, never mind a Real Madrid team-mate who operates in the same area of the field. So it’s easy to feel sorry for Karim Benzema, a world-class forward in his own right but a player who never seems to get the recognition he deserves.

Perhaps that’s why perpetual murmurings emerge from the Santiago Bernabeu about the potential sale of the Frenchman. According to Anthony Chapman of the Express, the 26-year-old could be on his way out of the Spanish capital, with the European Champions reportedly keen on drafting in Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller.

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Here’s the kind of attributes that have reportedly got Madrid interested in the German international:

It’s easy to see why the Los Blancos hierarchy could be keen on Muller. He’s a wonderfully gifted player that has a host of attributes to his game. While the 25-year-old may look a little ungainly in his playing style, he’s a shrewd, intelligent operator and a player capable of shining across the front line or in midfield.

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As his goalscoring exploits at World Cups also highlight, Muller is a forensically clinical finisher too. Here’s how he has fared against Benzema in domestic action this season:

	Benzema	Muller
Appearances (Sub)	11	12
Goals	8	6
Assists	5	4
Key Passes per Game	1.5	1.3
Pass Success	81.3%	68.2%
Dribbles per Game	0.8	0.8

Muller would be a fine point-man for Real Madrid’s attack, but given the distinction with which Benzema has done the job with under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, it’d make little sense for Los Blancos to draft in Muller at the Frenchman’s expense.

Here’s some of Benzema’s finest moments from the 2014/15 season so far:

Not too dissimilar to the German, Benzema is also a diligent runner and a fine link-man. The 26-year-old has also proven himself to be an ideal foil for the blistering talents of Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, and a player that makes an understated contribution to Real’s efforts. WhoScored.com provide us with an indication of his all-encompassing output:

Madrid are currently in the midst of a phenomenal winning run on the back of a season in which they won the Champions League. To ship out Benzema, who has blossomed into a refined focal point for this side, would make little sense at this juncture. Although some reports may suggest otherwise, Ancelotti is a savvy operator and will understand the critical role his No. 9 plays.

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Given reports the European champions are looking to invest in a new forward and Benzema’s sparkling form, Javier Hernandez’s stint with Madrid looks increasingly unlikely to be a long-term one. 

The Mexican striker is on loan with Real from Manchester United for the season, but he’s made just one La Liga start in the iconic all-white strip, per WhoScored.com. Currently 26 years old, Hernandez has subsequently admitted that it’s critical his next move yields a much more regular stream of first-team football, per Charlie Skillen of the Mail Online:

"

I am not sure what will happen in the summer yet - but whatever happens I need guarantees. I am 26 now - in the summer I will be 27 - I must be at a club where I am going to be playing regularly.

Wherever I am playing next season - I will make sure I have those sort of assurances.

"

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With Benzema et al in situ at the Bernabeu and Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao currently vying for a starting spot at Old Trafford, Hernandez may be forced to make another move in order to get the first-team football any player craves. 

Should he go in search of further pastures new, he’d be a fine addition for a host of clubs that are languishing just below European football’s elite. Indeed, although he’s only played a measly 149 minutes in La Liga since his temporary summer switch, Hernandez has already notched three goals for Los Blancos, per WhoScored.com. Ancelotti also had praise for him recently, per ESPN’s Dermot Corrigan:

Chicharito is a player who has predatory goalscoring instincts and that should see him earn a move to a big name in European football. But unfortunately for him, the Mexican doesn’t have the requisite requirements in his hold-up play, passing or physicality to ensure he’ll ever cut it for clubs of the stature of Madrid and United.