Top striker offered to Real Madrid, confirmed by The New York Times

Real Madrid faces a challenging journey this summer. Not only because of a Club World Cup that begins for the Merengue side in just 24 hours, in a match against Al-Hilal that will put all the new training sessions to the test. Also through the transfer market, which still hasn't concluded in the Valdebebas offices.

Although most of the requests made by Xabi Alonso upon his arrival have been fulfilled, there are still some suggestions that remain unsolved. These requests from the current Merengue coach haven't been fully satisfied, since the Basque coach has asked for a "9" in the style of Joselu. The scouts led by Juni Calafat are still exploring the market.

The search for a new striker to strengthen the forward line-up in Santiago Bernabéu locker room hasn't gone unnoticed in the European soccer elite. That's why some player representatives and agents have approached Real Madrid, hoping to achieve favorable results.

One of the most striking moves is, without a doubt, the one coming from the agent of one of the most successful penalty-box "killer" strikers last season. The suggestion of Viktor Gyökeres as a potential Madrid signing, according to information published by Mario Cortegana, has recently appeared before the Merengue board of directors.

It is a matter of great importance

Viktor Gyökeres would seemingly fit those requests from Xabi Alonso, aiming to bring back the figure of a traditional "9" to allow for more varied tactical considerations. But the reaction of the board of directors led by Florentino Pérez to the offer for the Sporting de Lisboa striker has been very forceful, rejecting the possibility of his signing this summer.

Distancing itself from the interest in Viktor Gyökeres, Real Madrid seems to make it very clear that it isn't seeking a multi-million transfer. The spending that Madrid's treasury has incurred with the signings made official so far, as well as the planned transfers, raises the expense account.

That's why the scouts led by Juni Calafat are still searching for a traditional "9", a penalty-box striker capable of battling with defenders... with enough experience in every sense. The goal is to secure his services, if he isn't a free agent, at the lowest possible price.

Only then would the request from Xabi Alonso to bring in a striker similar to the profile Joselu showed last season be accepted by the higher-ups at Santiago Bernabéu. The rejection of Viktor Gyökeres is a statement of intent and proof that Madrid's agenda prevails in every sense.