Karim Benzema will depart Real Madrid after 14 glittering years at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The club captain will reportedly join Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad on a deal worth an eye watering £172million a year.
For more than a decade the French striker has been an integral part of Los Blancos' all-conquering team and even though injuries have limited his appearances this season remains the clubs top scorer in all competitions.
With a valuable asset departing, Carlo Ancelotti will need to be decisive in the summer to ensure that Madrid can adequately replace such a pivotal figure in the club's recent success.
Finding a forward who can replicate the Ballon d'Or winner's prolific output in the Spanish capital will by no means be an easy task, but Real have the funds to be able to secure a potential successor.
Here are five stars that could potentially replace Benzema in Madrid.
HARRY KANE
The Premier League's second highest goal scorer would make a perfect replacement for Benzema, particularly given that it appears he will depart Tottenham this summer following another trophyless campaign in North London.
Ancelotti is also reportedly keen on signing the England captain too, with the manager having brought up the possibility of a move for Kane during a meeting with club chiefs earlier this month.
The club would likely face stiff competition from a number of other suitors desperate to land the 29-year-old's signature during the summer window, with Manchester United reportedly intent on landing the Spurs star.
However, Daniel Levy has demonstrated a reluctance in recent years to allow Kane to leave to a rival Premier League club, which could boost Madrid's chances should they attempt to sign him.
KYLIAN MBAPPE
For a club that renowned for its Galactico signings, there is no player more suited for a move to Madrid than PSG captain Kylian Mbappe.
The 24-year-old World Cup winner is arguably the brightest talent in world football and has proven himself to be unstoppable in the French top flight having already amassed six Ligue 1 titles and netted more than 150 goals in the competition.
Mbappe has flirted with the possibility of joining Real in recent years, and a deal appeared close last summer before he revealed he had turned down a move in order to 'write his own story' and capture a first Champions League trophy with Les Parisiens.
However, Mbappe's relationship with the club's hierarchy has remained fractious despite another league title win this season so the possibility of a move should not be completely ruled out.
KAI HAVERTZ
Though perhaps less of a like-for-like replacement to Benzema when compared to his contemporaries on this list, Chelsea star Kai Havertz has the potential to thrive if provided with the correct footballing environment.
Chelsea are set to allow a number of players to depart the club this summer as incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino attempts to refine their bloated squad, and Havertz is reported to be one of those allowed to depart Stamford Bridge.
Florentino Perez and Ancelotti are said to have already discussed the possibility of signing the Germany international who joined Chelsea for £76million in 2020.
The 23-year-old also comes with experience of performing in the most critical of circumstances, having netted Chelsea's winner in the 2021 Champions League final win over Man City.
VICTOR OSIMHEN
Of all the players to have flourished in Napoli's extraordinary march to the Serie A title this season, none have quite as brightly as Victor Osimhen.
A dependable, if unspectacular goalscorer during his first two campaigns with the club, Osimhen has flourished for Luciano Spalletti's side this season and is on track to be named Serie A's top scorer with 25 goals in 31 games.
Osimhen has two years remaining on his current deal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and the club may look to strike while the iron is hot and cash in on the Nigeria international this summer.
However, much like Kane, Los Blancos will face stiff competition from Man United over securing the 24-year-old's signature. Erik ten Hag has long been a vocal admirer of Osimhen, and attempted unsuccessfully to lure him to Old Trafford prior to his maiden campaign in charge of the club last summer.
DUSAN VLAHOVIC
Another star of Serie A that Ancelotti may look to in his attempt to fill the Benzema-sized hole at the Bernabeu is Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
A pair of prolific campaigns with in the Italian top flight with Fiorentina saw the Serbia striker make a move to Turin worth around £80million in 2021.
However, Vlahovic has failed to replicate his form in front of goal with the Old Lady, netting 14 times across 42 games in all competitions, and could depart for a new challenge this summer.
Juventus however, remain adamant that Vlahovic will not depart the club in the transfer window, and rebuffed interest from several Premier League clubs last month with the club's chief football officer Francesco Calvo insisting: 'Dusan is not for sale'.
