Carlo Ancelotti instructs Real Madrid to sign Harry Kane as Karim Benzema replacement as Spain trip revealed

Carlo Ancelotti has urged Real Madrid's board to sign Tottenham striker Harry Kane as a replacement for Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid confirmed on Sunday that Benzema has agreed to leave the club at the end of the season, one year before his contract was due to expire.

"Real Madrid Football Club and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close," read a club statement.

"Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends."

The 35-year-old, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or, is expected to move to Saudi Arabia.

The Mirror claim Benzema has received a huge offer from an unnamed Saudi club which would see him earn around £345m over the course of two years.

Real Madrid are now in the market for a new striker, having already confirmed Mariano Diaz will also leave the club this summer.

The Athletic claim Real Madrid manager Ancelotti has set his sights on Kane and wants the England international to replace Benzema at the Bernabeu.

Kane, 29, is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs and has shown no signs of committing his long-term future to the club.

He is also Manchester United's No 1 transfer target, with manager Erik ten Hag desperate to sign him this summer.

According to The Athletic, Ancelotti told Real Madrid's board he wants to sign Kane during a key meeting with key figures to discuss transfers.

Club president Florentino Perez and general manager Jose Angel Sanchez joined Ancelotti at the club's Valdebebas training ground on Thursday to talk through the club's summer transfer business.

According to sources, Ancelotti asked for Kane to reinforce his attack next season.

The board told Ancelotti they would try to make that happen, although difficulties were highlighted.

Could Kane join Real Madrid?

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will want to keep Kane and will still be hopeful of convincing him to sign a contract extension.

But after the disappointment of this season, which saw Spurs finish eighth in the Premier League, Kane may seek a move away from the club in search of an elusive first piece of major silverware.

If he is forced to sell, Levy will no doubt be reluctant to allow Kane to join a direct Premier League rival such as Manchester United, potentially opening the door for a deal with Real Madrid.

However, talkSPORT claim Kane's preferred option would be to remain in English football to break Alan Shearer's Premier League scoring record.

He is currently second on the all-time list on 213 goals, still some way off Shearer's record of 260.

The report also claims Kane made a trip to Madrid earlier this year, amid speculation over his club future.

Asked about Kane on Saturday, Ancelotti said: "I have always said that Kane is a great player, but he plays for Tottenham and we have to respect the player and Tottenham."

Real Madrid conclude the La Liga season against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.