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Real Madrid in pole position to steal Barcelona’s Lionel Messi replacement

By Atharva Khadilkar

BARCELONA, SPAIN - January 04: Lionel Messi #10 of Barcelona during the Espanyol V Barcelona, La Liga regular season match at RCDE Stadium on January 4th 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - January 04: Lionel Messi #10 of Barcelona during the Espanyol V Barcelona, La Liga regular season match at RCDE Stadium on January 4th 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid have reportedly established themselves as clear leaders in a bid to land one of the biggest Barcelona targets of 2020.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both jointly top of the La Liga standings with respect to points, but by their sky-high standards, neither of the two have been at their best and can call themselves lucky to be placed first because even the likes of Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia have been dropping points at a faster rate than them.

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Los Merengues have reason for optimism because their defence has finally been fixed and has kept nine clean sheets in the last 12 outings, but Barca have struggled to keep things solid at the back while their reliance on Lionel Messi is still persistent. The captain is set to call it a career in two or three years, so it is imperative that a worthy replacement is signed.

England international Jadon Sancho, who is currently on the books of Borussia Dortmund is one of the players shortlisted by the Blaugrana as potential fill-ins for their greatest ever player, Diario GOL claims. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah are also part of the plans, but attaining their signatures is going to be a nearly impossible task for Barca.

Jadon Sancho was the only player apart from Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi to register double digits in terms of goals and assists in the top five European leagues last season while this season, he was the first to reach that figure in all competitions. Sancho is certainly an asset for the German giants, but he is inevitably going to leave for bigger things.

Barcelona are hoping to capitalize on the attacker ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and most importantly Real Madrid, but Zinedine Zidane’s side is being considered as a frontrunner for Sancho’s signing. The youngster has been valued at 116 million euros, but Madrid do have other ways to entice Dortmund.

Florentino Perez will reportedly offer Luka Jovic plus some cash in exchange of Jadon Sancho. The Whites’ president has been left unhappy with the recent performances put in by Jovic who seems to be unsettled in Spain, so offering him a route back to Germany and landing one of the biggest European prospect has put Real Madrid in the driving seat for Sancho.

Next. Barcelona have identified Dani Alves' perfect replacement. dark

Do you see Jadon Sancho picking a Spanish outfit over a return to the Premier League?

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