Real Madrid ready to sign striker in January after ‘losing faith in Gareth Bale’… but does it also mean end of Karim Benzema?

REAL MADRID are lining up a January swoop for a striker after losing patience with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, according to reports.

Spanish newspaper SPORT claim that Real president Florentino Perez wants to bring in an experienced forward to take them through to the summer – where they will then make a big-name signing.

Los Blancos have really felt the void of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, with the club currently lying sixth in La Liga and four points off arch rivals Barcelona at the top.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains a realistic target on a short-term deal from LA Galaxy after scoring an incredible 22 goals in 27 appearances in the MLS already.

Ex-Manchester United striker Falcao is also an option after growing tired of the current situation at Monaco – with the Ligue 1 giants lying joint bottom alongside Guingamp.

Two other possible targets are La Liga duo Maxi Gomez and Borja Iglesias.

Gomez, 22, has six goals in 10 matches for Celta Vigo this season.

Spaniard Iglesias is another player on Real’s radar, with the Espanyol centre forward finding the net seven times in 12 outings this term, helping his side to fifth in the table.

After encouraging starts to the season both Bale and Benzema have failed to live up to expectations, with the burden of goals left on their shoulders following Ronaldo’s exit.

The pair received whistles from the Bernabeu crowd before the 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid on November 3 – following the embarrassing 5-1 thrashing by Barcelona the week before.

Bale notched three goals in as many league games, but since scoring in a 4-1 win over Leganes at the start of September the ex-Tottenham ace has failed to find the net in the league.

Elsewhere, Benzema, who looks to be on borrowed time at the Bernabeu, had an eight-game goal drought earlier in the campaign.

With that said the France striker does have four goals in his last four games in all competitions.

One thing is for certain though, the attacking pair don’t appear the same players without the presence of Ronaldo in the team.