Stopped the move to the Premier League: Will this be Real Madrid's new striker?
The Blancos have identified Carlos Espi from Levante as Gonzalo Garcia's replacement. He scored 13 goals last season in all competitions and was already on his way to sign with Hull.
Against the backdrop of Gonzalo Garcia's likely departure to Fulham, Real Madrid is looking for a backup striker for Kylian Mbappe. According to a report in "AS", one of the names that has emerged recently is Carlos Espi, the 21-year-old star of Levante.
Espi was very close to a move to Hull City, which submitted an official offer and made significant progress in negotiations with Levante. However, following Real Madrid's entry into the picture, the striker has halted the move to England to wait for further developments. Contacts are still at an early stage, but initial talks have taken place between the clubs and the player's representatives.
Espi, who holds a contract with Levante until June 2028, has also frozen other offers from outside Spain. Levante is not in a hurry to compromise and is demanding the full release clause of 25 million euros. Hull viewed him as a central part of their ambitious project to fight for a place in Europe, and they now fear the deal will collapse.
Although Endrick remains in Jose Mourinho's squad and can serve as a replacement for Mbappe, the club is looking for a player with a specific profile: not a big star, but a reliable penalty-box striker willing to accept a secondary role. In Madrid, they see Espi as a candidate who fits the role previously filled by Joselu.
"He is a physical striker with a presence in the box and the ability to change games that get stuck," sources report.
In his debut season in the top flight, he scored 13 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions, including several decisive goals that helped Levante secure its survival.
