5 Possible Replacements for Gareth Bale If Real Madrid Sell Wales Star

Gareth Bale has come under fire from the Spanish media and Real Madrid supporters since the turn of the year, leading to speculation that he could elect to move away from the Bernabeu this summer.

Madrid president Florentino Perez did, however, recently tell Marca that the club are not interested in listening to offers for Bale, while Bleacher Report columnist Guillem Balague has reaffirmed that there is no chance of a move happening at the end of the current season.

However, there is the possibility that a move could materialise the following summer if things continue to go badly for the Welshman in the early part of next season.

If Bale does leave Madrid, whenever that may occur, here are five possible replacements.

Sergio Aguero

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Real Madrid have a long-standing interest in Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero that dates back to his time with local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Sport (h/t Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail) reported back in 2011 that Aguero would have joined Los Merengues instead of City that summer had he agreed to switch agents to Jorge Mendes.

And Jenson states that Madrid president Florentino Perez still holds an interest in bringing the Argentinian to the Bernabeu.

Per Soccerway, Aguero has scored 98 goals in all competitions in his near-four years in England. At 26, he still has a few good years at the top level ahead of him, and he has previous La Liga experience under his belt.

He is most comfortable playing through the centre and would therefore not be a direct replacement for Bale. However, Karim Benzema has enjoyed some success from a starting position on the left side at the international level, and it would surely be possible to reconfigure the Madrid attack to find space for a finisher of Aguero’s ability.

Luciano Vietto

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Luciano Vietto has been one of the standout young stars of La Liga so far this season. Per WhoScored.com, he has scored 12 goals and provided two assists for a Villarreal side who currently sit sixth in the table.

He notched an additional six goals and four assists during the club’s Europa League campaign.

The speed with which he has adapted to European football following his move from Racing Club in his native Argentina has been impressive.

With a release clause that currently stands at €20 million, per Javier Mata of AS, it is little surprise that the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool have all been linked to the 21-year-old.

Mata reports that Villarreal are determined to keep Vietto at El Madrigal for at least another season. They have opened talks over a new contract that would see his buyout clause increased significantly.

If Madrid or another club succeed in turning the player’s head prior to that occurring, however, they will have little choice but to allow their young starlet to leave.

Raheem Sterling

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Real Madrid Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane has recently confirmed that the club are keeping tabs on Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling.

“We know who Raheem Sterling is, and of course we are monitoring the player,” he told Charlie Skillen of the Daily Mail.

“There are very few players in the world who can improve the Real Madrid squad, so it is going to make sense we monitor the progress of the best young players in the world.”

The 20-year-old has played as a wide forward, central attacking midfielder and false nine since breaking into the Liverpool first team, and his adaptability could make him an attractive target.

Sterling is in the midst of ongoing contract renewal talks with his current employers. He still has over two years left to run on his present deal, and Madrid will likely be content to maintain a watching brief for now.

Lucas Moura

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Italy's Sport Mediaset (h/t Managing Madrid) reported in February that Carlo Ancelotti has been keeping an eye on the progress of his former Paris Saint-Germain charge Lucas Moura.

Per WhoScored.com, the 22-year-old has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 20 league appearances so far this season. He has also made more dribbles per match (3.4) than any other player in Ligue 1.

The Brazilian would provide a quick and direct threat down the right side. He would give Madrid genuine width as he is an out-and-out winger rather than a wide forward who consistently looks to cut infield towards goal.

Ancelotti has intimate knowledge of the player’s strengths after working with him in Paris. If the Italian remains on the Bernabeu bench, Moura could represent a viable option.

James Rodriguez

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If Real Madrid were to sell Bale, they already have a player capable of stepping into his place in the form of James Rodriguez.

The Colombian is naturally an attacking midfielder, but he was used as part of a forward three during his time at FC Porto. He also fulfilled the same role on a few occasions during his early months in Madrid.

The 23-year-old has been impressive since his move to Spain, despite operating in a slightly deeper midfield role than he was previously accustomed to. But his ability in the final third remains—as evidenced by his tally of 12 goals in all competitions, as per Soccerway—and could be utilised further if Madrid were unable to secure a direct replacement for Bale.

Jese and the returning Denis Cheryshev would also offer further options in this position should a more natural forward be required in certain circumstances.

If Bale were to depart, then it would also open up the possibility of Madrid switching to the 4-4-2 they utilised earlier this season on a permanent basis, with a first-choice midfield four of Rodriguez, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco.