Real Madrid join transfer chase for Gabriel Jesus as potential Gareth Bale replacement

REAL MADRID have been linked with a surprise move for Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus.

The Spanish club are in a period of transition as they try to revive a squad that has fallen off the pace in La Liga and in Europe.

And according to reports in Spain, they have already started to cast their eye around for potential targets for next summer – with Jesus a player they like.

Don Balon say the 22-year-old has caught the eye of officials at the Bernabeu as someone who could come in an deliver the potency in attack they feel they current side is missing.

And with Gareth Bale a player boss Zinedine Zidane appears desperate to move out of the club, the Brazilian is seen as a potential forward to replace him in the squad.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo quit to move to Juventus in 2018, Real have been nowhere near as prolific going forward.

Karim Benzema continues to be the side’s most dangerous striker, but at present the likes of Eden Hazard, Bale and Vinicious are not weighing in with the kind of goal return the club are looking for.

It has left the club looking elsewhere for options, especially with the likelihood they will make another attempt to offload Bale next summer.

Jesus has never established himself as a regular starter for City in the three years since the club splashed out £27million to sign him.

He has been forced to play second fiddle to Sergio Aguero in attack, and when he has played he has not been consistent enough to persuade Pep Guardiola that he can be the main man.

Aguero is coming towards the latter years of his playing career, and City still have hopes Jesus can assume the responsibility of hitting the goals they need.

And his form on the international stage for Brazil suggests he has the game to be one of the top strikers in world football.

But Real believe the lack of regular starts at the Etihad could lead Jesus to consider moving elsewhere at the end of the current season.

And according to the reports, the club would be interested in seeing if they can strike a deal for the forward.