Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski have both been the subject of interest from Real Madrid as the club look to bolster their attack ahead of new season.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are planning an overhaul up front at the end of the campaign, and are reportedly seeking to replace the likes of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
With Kane and Lewandowski in sensational form for their clubs, it will be a coup if Los Blancos can secure one of their signatures.
Interestingly, the Tottenham star has been linked to the club of late, while the Bayern Munich talisman has been a long-term target.
With Real Madrid only able to realistically secure one player due to their mammoth transfer fee, who would you rather have in your team?
HARRY KANE
EXPECTED TRANSFER FEE: £200 MILLION
It’s clear the Englishman is passionate about his boyhood club but if he wants to win trophies and be remembered as a potential legend of the game, then he needs to make a move to a bigger club like Madrid.
Playing in a new team with a different style of play would give the 24-year-old a chance to showcase his talents on a grander stage.
With 30 plus goals in three out of the last four seasons, Kane has proven he is the ace marksmen in the Premier League and one of Europe’s leading attackers.
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s powers starting to show signs of decreasing and Benzema continuing to disappoint, the industrious Kane could step in at the right time and be a leader for years to come at the Bernabeu.
He has an incredible eye to nip in front of the defender and pounce in attacking positions or peel off at the right moment when a cross or ball comes through to the box.
Although he doesn’t look like the fastest attacker, he has incredible intelligence and an ability to read the game that is better than most in the world.
Clinical with both feet, Kane nets goals at a meteoric rate – every 5.5 shots – and is on track to win a third consecutive Premier League Golden Boot Award.
CAREER STATS
CLUB APPEARANCES: 201
CLUB GOALS: 134
INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES: 23
INTERNATIONAL GOALS: 12
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
EXPECTED TRANSFER FEE: £120 MILLION
Similar to Kane, Lewandowski is a natural finisher and has been one of Europe’s marquee strikers since signing for Borussia Dortmund in 2010.
A move to Bayern Munich four seasons later saw the Polish hitman enhance his reputation as one of the stars of the game – scoring 139 goals in 181 games in all competitions for Jupp Heynckes’ side.
At 29, Lewandowski still has buckets of playing ability in his armoury – and his goal-scoring ratio is instrumental on both the club and international stage.
Despite not being blessed with pace, Lewandowski holds the ball up extremely well and brings others into the game.
What he does well is the basics. He is strong in the air, brilliant on the ball in tight areas and is capable of finding space in the tightest of areas.
Although he always has an eye for goal, he is superb at turning his man and favouring the quick pass – if the shot is not on.
That’s what makes him so good. He is a combination of every kind from the quick turns and instincts of Sergio Aguero to the strikes like Ronaldo.
Like Kane, he’s lethal with both feet and has shown he can score from any angle when he finds space.
CAREER STATS
CLUB APPEARANCES: 181
CLUB GOALS: 139
INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES: 91
INTERNATIONAL GOALS: 51
EFFECTIVENESS THIS SEASON
Both players have been similarly effective this season on the domestic front with Harry Kane scoring more goals – despite playing six more matches.
The Englishman has netted 24 goals in 26 games – having not registered a single strike for the entire month of August.
In contrast, Lewandowski has netted 20 goals in 20 matches as Bayern Munich continue to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
In the Champions League, Kane has also been more prolific in front of goal with seven in six matches, compared to Lewandowski’s five goals in six.
In terms of success in the air, Lewandowski has won 45% of his aerial duels while Kane has won 43.6%.
For successful take-ons, Lewandowski shades it again with 50% compared to Kane’s 47.5%.
WHERE THEY COULD GO NEXT
Kane is a long-term target of Real Madrid but it just depends whether the club fork out in excess of £200 million for the ace attacker.
If the English international does not sign with Los Blancos, then expect him to put pen to paper on a long term contract at Wembley Stadium.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski has often been linked to Madrid and it looks like the Polish star is set to leave the Allianz Stadium at the end of the season.
With Real in the market for a long-term replacement for Benzema, a move for Lewandowski would be a solid three-four year option but how much will the club’s hierarchy pay for a 29-year-old?
VERDICT
There’s little between the two and either player would be a menace in front of goal at the Bernabeu – although Kane is five years younger than Lewandowski.
Lewandowski may be more experienced, but Kane has been more of an attacking threat this term. The former has been more successful in terms of trophies having won 12 so far with the Tottenham man still waiting for his first taste of silverware. However, it could be argued that the Pole has played in an easier league for the majority of his career.
Kane is more physical – partly down to his frame as he’s six kilos heavier and one inch taller – and has the chance to work on this further as his career progresses. The Englishman would also flourish for the Spanish outfit – as his finishing ability would do justice to the superb service from the likes of Marco Asensio, Isco and Lucas Vazquez.
There is more of a return for Zidane to opt for the younger Kane – who in a star-studded team like Real – would guide the club to more trophies and further his claim as the leading striker in Europe.
The Spurs star edges it – due to his age, industry and potential.
All statistics are compiled using squawka.com
