Luis Suarez Liverpool
Real Madrid may have to break the world-transfer record in order to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. Reuters

If recent speculation holds even the slimmest truth, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appears ready to launch a new Galacticos policy.

In the early 2000s, Perez employed the mandate to sign superstar after superstar like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham in successive summers. And now after Gareth Bale’s world-record transfer last summer, Perez could make an even bigger splash for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan striker, who signed a £40 million extension in December that was supposed to keep him at Merseyside until at least 2018, has dominated Premier League with 30 goals and 12 assists this term and the Reds maintain a five point advantage atop the table for their first title in 25 years.

It’s that success that would make Liverpool officials more than pause at any suggestion of dealing Suarez, but Madrid are reportedly making plans to shore up enough funds to make the Reds think on the offer.

According to Express, Madrid is willing to sell Karim Benzema to Arsenal or Serie A’s Juventus to specifically parlay the funds into a mega-bid for Suarez.

Before the present campaign began, Suarez was reportedly angling for a move to Madrid in order to play in Champions League, but with the Reds almost guaranteed to play for Europe’s top prize next year he might finally be content with his surroundings.

Bale’s fee reached a reported £80 to £86 million, and while he certainly solidified himself as one of the best players in the world with Tottenham, his play never reached the heights of Suarez’s.

Benzema has scored 72 goals in 156 appearances in all competitions since joining Madrid from Lyon in 2009. His market value has been pegged around £30 million, meaning Los Blancos would have to come up with as much as £50 to £60 million more to entice Liverpool.

Perez and Madrid are also preparing contingencies should a deal for Suarez fall flat, and the plans still involve teaming Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo with a top flight striker.

Again a deal involves selling Benzema, but according to Daily Mirror the French international would instead land with Paris Saint-Germain for £35 million and Madrid would then chase Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

The 25-year-old Argentinean has tallied 50 goals in 82 appearances for City, and the club has enjoyed roaring success with Aguero guiding the flow of the attack. Since Aguero moved over to City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for £38 million, the club has claimed one Premier League title and has never fallen out of the top four atop the table.

City has also publicly stated they intend to keep all of their top players, meaning Real Madrid may have to move down their list once more.

Rather than pluck a proven star at the top of his form, Madrid may instead turn to emerging Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi.

Perhaps seeking to leverage his early success with eight goals in 18 appearances in his first season at San Siro, the 21-year-old reportedly asked Inter to restructure his contract as Madrid, PSG and Monaco have expressed interest, according to Tuttosport.

Inter will reportedly listen to offers for Icardi, assuming the negotiation begins at £20 million.