Real Madrid Transfer News: Radamel Falcao for Karim Benzema Rumours Emerge

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale hogging the spotlight at Real Madrid, it is perhaps understandable that Karim Benzema’s understated influence goes unnoticed.

Furthermore, the Frenchman’s attributes could be something Los Blancos are happy to go without, with Radamel Falcao touted as a replacement.

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According to reports in Spain (h/t Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star), Real's desperation to land Falcao—currently on loan at Manchester United from AS Monaco—will prompt them to cash in Benzema. 

The Colombian forward shone during his two-year stint with Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Here’s a look at what Real could potentially be getting should they strike a deal:

Falcao is currently beginning to find his feet at Old Trafford following a substantial injury layoff, and while there have been small signs of him rediscovering his goalscoring touch, he’s not quite accrued the astonishing levels that were on show during his time at Atletico. 

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With that in mind, to cash in on Benzema at the expense of the Monaco man would be peculiar. The Colombian is a poacher extraordinaire, and while his work outside of the penalty area isn’t shabby, it’s not as refined or effective as the Frenchman’s efforts.

That's what makes Benzema a perfect foil for the effervescent talents of Ronaldo and Bale.

OptaJean provides us with the stats to back up the effectiveness of the Frenchman’s glittering all-round play:

If he wants to be the main man at a club, Benzema himself would push for a move. At this juncture, even as speculation about his future looks set to linger in perpetuity, the 26-year-old looks settled and is growing into one of the world’s standout centre-forwards.

It would be a major surprise to see Falcao targeted at his expense.

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Marco Reus is a player who has also been roundly touted as the next dynamic talent to join up with Los Blancos, but according to well-respected Spanish journalist Juan Gato, Real could be set to lose out on the German international to city rivals Atletico.

“Atletico is the only team that has closed an agreement with Marco Reus,” said Gato, per Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star.

As noted here by Sky Sports Spanish football expert Graham Hunter, Gato is a pretty reliable source:

Here’s a look at why Reus has reportedly been pursued by some of European football’s biggest names:

The Rojiblancos are not a team that have regularly been mentioned in the race for the Borussia Dortmund man, but it’s easy to see why Diego Simeone would potentially be interested in the player and why Reus would possibly favour a move to the Vicente Calderon. 

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After being schooled by Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund, the Germany international is a player well acquainted with a high-intensity, high-pressure system and subsequently he’d seamlessly slot into this well-oiled, ferocious Atletico team.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe gives us a rundown of Reus’ other standout qualities here:

Reus seems a level-headed character too, perhaps most noticeable when he turned down Bayern Munich for Dortmund—where playing opportunities would come about much more often—when leaving Borussia Monchengladbach.

Perhaps with Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo all currently in situ at the Santiago Bernabeu, the German will make a decision founded on similar premises.

However, the lure of Real is incomparable in world football. You suspect that if Los Blancos really do want Reus, they could persuade him to join. If he is to leave Dortmund, the German is a player who will surely demand reassurances about his spot in the first team, meaning Atletico may well be a viable option.