
<p>Real Madrid are reportedly tracking <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/borussia-dortmund-tv-schedule/">Borussia Dortmund</a> forward Karim Adeyemi. <a href="https://sportbild.bild.de/bundesliga/vereine/borussia-dortmund/borussia-dortmund-transfer-sensation-bahnt-sich-an-real-will-auch-ihn-84356394.sport.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sportbild</em></a> claims that the Spanish side are in fact interested in the striker and could even make a move this summer. </p>



<p>Adeyemi only just joined Dortmund from RB Salzburg in 2022 in a deal worth around $30 million.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the German giants are supposedly asking <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>, or any other club, for around $87 million for their young star. The aforementioned outlet claims that a move for Adeyemi would be difficult because of the quoted price tag.</p>



<p>Los Blancos could then move on to different targets should the fee be too high for the Dortmund forward.</p>



<h2>Real Madrid have spent nearly $120 million already but still need a striker</h2>



<p>The Spanish giants have already splashed out around $113 million for former Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and another $6 million for full back Fran Garcia. </p>



<p>However, Karim Benzema’s departure leaves Real with a massive hole to fill up front. The legendary center forward recently joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad on a massive contract.</p>



<p>With that being said, the Spanish side are working on contingency plans. Joselu is set to join the club on loan.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Walker clocked the highest top speed during the 2022/23 Premier League season (37.3km/h).<br><br>Karim Adeyemi clocked the fastest speed in the Bundesliga (36.7km/h).<br><br>Der Klassiker 2023/24. 👀 <a href="https://t.co/BXjrAmExPI">pic.twitter.com/BXjrAmExPI</a></p>— Squawka (@Squawka) <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1669763406792908800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>With Benzema now gone, Real must sign a new first-line replacement. Adeyemi enjoyed a solid debut season with Dortmund during the 2022/23 campaign. </p>



<p>The 21-year-old forward grabbed nine goals and six assists in 32 total matches with his new club. </p>



<p>While these numbers are not exactly spectacular, Adeyemi is only going to improve. Minor injuries also hindered his time to settle as well. </p>



<p>In fact, the youngster missed 10 total matches in the season due to these setbacks.</p>



<h2>Karim Adeyemi seen as an alternative to Kylian Mbappe</h2>



<p>Along with Adeyemi, Los Blancos have also been linked with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> star Kylian Mbappe. The France international recently revealed that he will not sign a new deal at the Parc des Princes, making his short-term future unclear. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Real Madrid expect to complete the Joselu deal next week, here we go soon. It&apos;s a loan deal thanks to a clause in his Espanyol contract which allows him to leave. <br><br>— <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FabrizioRomano</a> <a href="https://t.co/JIoK0GFgrD">pic.twitter.com/JIoK0GFgrD</a></p>— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadridUniversal/status/1670012631686471680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Mbappe’s current contract expires next summer and PSG will not allow him to leave for free. This means that Mbappe will be on the market this summer. </p>



<p>Florentino Perez would love to have the superstar in the team, and Mbappe has shown interest in the Spanish team, but a move hinges on his potential price tag.</p>



<p>Photo credit: <strong>IMAGO / Revierfoto</strong></p>


Real Madrid need a replacement for Karim Benzema, and are looking at Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund this summer

Karim Adeyemi emerges as striking option for Real Madrid


<p>A quieter <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> knockout round matchday on Wednesday led to wins for both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/borussia-dortmund-tv-schedule/">Borussia Dortmund</a> and Benfica. The former defeated an expensive <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> side, despite the Blues holding more of the strong chances. Benfica travelled to Club Brugge and used a penalty to win in the other game.</p>



<p>The Dortmund win came by a narrow margin of 1-0. Benfica provided a little more comfort to fans watching back home, taking a 2-0 lead into the return leg in Portugal. </p>



<p>Those return legs are not for four weeks time. Still, there are a number of key takeaways for all teams involved in Wednesday’s set of fixtures.</p>



<h2>Dortmund and Benfica pick up knockout round wins in first legs</h2>



<p>The bigger of the two games on the day was certainly Chelsea’s trip to Germany. Chelsea entered on a sputter. The club is 10th in the table with three-straight draws in the league. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/latest-chelsea-transfers-not-at-fault-for-aimless-spending-20230114-WST-415145.html">Fresh signings</a> are still getting comfortable at Stamford Bridge.</p>



<p>A trip to the Signal Iduna Park showed the potential of the squad. Chance creation, possession domination and quick passing allowed all statistics to say Chelsea should have won. Joao Felix had a gem of a game, a common occurrence for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-close-to-landing-joao-felix-on-loan-20230109-WST-414933.html">the loanee</a>.</p>



<p>However, the name of the game for Chelsea was the inability to take chances. <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1625962846764011520" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Felix hit the crossbar</a> in the first half. Reece James forced two strong saves out of Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Enzo Fernandez almost had an equalizer in stoppage time. Emre Can had a goal-line clearance after Kalidou Koulibaly stung the palms of Kobel.</p>



<p>With all this pressure, it would take a moment of brilliance for Dortmund to find a goal of its own. That would be an understatement for what Karim Adeyemi did. Off a Chelsea corner, Adeyemi pounced on a clearance in his own half. He then dribbled past Enzo Fernandez and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to score the lone goal of the game. </p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">KARIM ADEYEMI. STOP THAT. 😤<br><br>A devastating Dortmund counter-attack after Chelsea hit the bar! <a href="https://t.co/XEC1tqhmPp">pic.twitter.com/XEC1tqhmPp</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1625971069105635328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>That would be the difference in the game. </p>



<h5>Benfica continues fine form in Europe</h5>



<p>The Brugge-Benfica battle did not have the star-power of its simultaneous counterpart. Benfica, which finished top of the group with Juventus and PSG, continues to fly under the radar despite leading in the Primeira Liga. Brugge on the other hand is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/club-brugge-defines-unpredictability-of-uefa-champions-league-20221101-WST-406386.html">the surprise team in the Champions League</a> knockout stages. The Belgian side sits fourth in its domestic league. Plus, in the group stage of the Champions League, Brugge was the joint-lowest scorer with just seven goals.</p>



<p>If Brugge was going to struggle to score, it would have to do well to keep the ball out of its own net. Early in the second half, that challenge got more challenging. A penalty on a defensive clearance allowed Joao Mario to put Benfica ahead from the spot. </p>



<p>Unable to get forward, Brugge only sent four shots away with one getting on target. Then, just before stoppage time, a defensive calamity from Brugge practically gifted David Neres a goal. Brugge now face a mountain as it travels to Portugal. </p>



<p>However, earlier in the season, Brugge did have to play at Porto. Brugge walked away with a shocking 4-0 win. The Belgians need a similar result to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Moritz Müller</em></p>


Borussia Dortmund and Benfica got off to strong starts in the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League with wins in the last 16.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Karim Adeyemi"

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Karim Adeyemi emerges as striking option for Real Madrid

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Borussia Dortmund, Benfica start UCL knockout round with wins