Report: Luka Jovic bound for Real Madrid, not Bayern Munich

Eintracht Frankfurt’s striker Luka Jovic may already be off the market and out of Bayern Munich’s grasp. According to a story by AS, Real Madrid has already come to terms with Eintracht to secure the striker for next season.

The report claims that Real Madrid will pay Eintracht €48m and Jovic’s home club, SL Benfica, €12m (i.e. a 25% fee), for a sum of €60m total. Jovic would reportedly receive a 6-year-contract, through the 2025-2026 season, playing alongside and more probably replacing Karim Benzema.

Eintracht exercised its option to purchase Jovic from Benfica just last month for a mere €8m. Eintracht thus could stand to turn a 500% profit on Jovic within the space of a month.

And on top of the hypothetical transfer fee, Eintracht will also reportedly acquire a potential replacement: Real has thrown 19-year-old striker Pedro Ruiz. Ruiz has scored 4 goals in 6 games for Real Madrid’s U19 in the UEFA Youth League and has appeared once (without scoring) for Real Madrid B.

But is Eintracht ready to flip Jovic immediately after signing until June 2023? As you may have seen on BFW earlier, SportBild claims that Jovic is open to a transfer to Bayern, but Bayern has yet to make an offer. AS, meanwhile, alleges that Jovic has already begun to contact players at Real and has been asking about life in Madrid.

But Eintracht enjoys at least three years of leverage on Jovic’s four-year contract and will presumably need their ace’s goals if they successfully hold their table position and play in the Champions League next season — let alone if they can qualify by defeating Chelsea and then winning the the Europa League. And there is no reason to believe Ruiz is anywhere near ready for first-team action. Given the ever-inflating transfer market, Eintracht could still potentially cash Jovic in for as much or for even more next year.

We will see whether the AS report is confirmed in the coming days.