Real Madrid keeps planning its squad for next season and Xabi Alonso has found a problem: he needs a striker with physical presence. In certain matches, he looks for a different profile for the attacking front, being able to cross balls into the box to find a finisher. Since Joselu's departure, there hasn't been a forward with those characteristics at Bernabéu, and the favorite is in Spain: Ante Budimir, from Osasuna.
Ante Budimir will turn 34 years old in the coming weeks and Real Madrid is willing to sign him, but not at any price. At this moment, his release clause is set at 8 million euros and he has a contract until 2027. In recent hours, the proposal that Florentino Pérez is going to make has come to light, thus trying to convince Osasuna to lower the final price for its striker.
3 million and a swap deal for Ante Budimir
Defensa Central has discovered that Madrid intends to lower the final amount for the Croatian to less than half of his release clause. The idea is clear: Florentino plans to put forward an amount of 3 million euros (about $3.2 million), plus a swap deal. The one who would head to Osasuna would be a youth player from La Fábrica, with Jacobo Ramón or Loren Aguado as options.
At this moment, Osasuna's stance seems clear: it doesn't want to part with its top scorer. In this regard, the proposal wouldn't be entirely appealing, referring to its 8 million euro (about $8.6 million) clause.
Ante Budimir, a different striker who is liked at Real Madrid
About to turn 34 years old, Ante Budimir has had one of the best seasons of his career... Becoming the third top scorer in LaLiga with 21 goals in 38 matches for Osasuna. His performance has been so outstanding that it has caught the attention of the new Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso, who has expressly requested a striker with his profile.
Budimir isn't a media-friendly forward, but his impact on the field is unquestionable. Powerful in aerial play, intelligent in his runs, and lethal in the box, the Croatian striker has shown a goal-scoring ability that doesn't go unnoticed in the offices at Bernabéu. His experience in LaLiga and his reliability as a finisher make him an ideal option to strengthen the white bench without disrupting the balance of the locker room.
Florentino Pérez is going after him. The club needs a complementary striker to give the starters a rest in demanding matches. Budimir fits that role perfectly. His low cost and immediate impact make him Xabi Alonso's favorite. In Chamartín, they're studying him closely. Budimir is closer to Real Madrid than many imagine.