Real Madrid reportedly made contact over transfer swoops for both Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane before making Eden Hazard one of their top targets to replace Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.
Having sold Ronaldo to Juventus in one of this summer’s major deals, it has been little surprise to see Real linked with some of the biggest attacking players on the planet since then.
MORE: Video: Cristiano Ronaldo meets Juventus teammates after reporting for pre-season with Turin giants
Hazard stories have dominated the headlines for some time now, but El Pais report that Madrid first tried signing Salah from Liverpool and Kane from Tottenham, only to be rejected.
The Spanish publication states that Los Blancos got in touch with the pair via intermediaries, only for Salah to sign a new contract at Anfield, while Spurs made it clear Kane was not for sale, with the England international not seeming to push for a move.
El Pais also now suggests that Madrid face a fight to land Hazard this summer, though they may not be too fussed as president Florentino Perez has his reservations about the Belgian anyway.
It remains to be seen what Real can do in the final weeks of the transfer window, but one imagines they must surely have something else lined up after losing one of their best ever players in Ronaldo.
The Portugal international scored 44 goals in 44 games last season, showing he remains one of the most lethal forwards on the planet despite being set to turn 34 next season.
Salah seems like he could have been an ideal candidate after showing similarly prolific form for Liverpool last season, but the Reds will be delighted to keep hold of the Egyptian.
Kane and Hazard could also have worked for varying reasons, but it looks like good news from a Premier League point of view as English football’s biggest stars don’t look set to be lured to La Liga for the time being.
