Joselu determined to join Real Madrid on a permanent deal

The 33-year-old has proven to be an important squad player for Los Blancos during the 2023-24 campaign, representing the club on 38 occasions, scoring 13 goals and registering three assists in the process.

Only Jude Bellingham (20) and Vinicius Junior (18) have netted more times for Carlo Ancelotti's side this season, with Joselu sitting joint-third in the scoring list alongside Rodrygo.

The forward moved to Bernabeu on loan from Espanyol last summer, and he has expressed a desire to complete a permanent switch to the La Liga leaders, but the Spain international has admitted that it could be a complicated process depending on Espanyol's potential return to La Liga.

"I hope to stay with Real Madrid on a permanent deal. I had a clause that if Espanyol went down, I could go out on loan," Joselu said in an interview with ABC.

"Well, Madrid had the opportunity, they thought it was convenient to be able to trigger it. And here I am.

"There's a contract, an option to buy, Madrid can buy me in the summer. There are many situations, if Espanyol doesn't go up, if they do go up. A lot of things that can happen."

Espanyol are currently third in the Segunda Division table, just one point behind second-placed Elche and four behind leaders Leganes.

Joselu made the move to Espanyol from Alaves in the summer of 2022, and he scored 16 La Liga goals for the Catalan outfit last term but was unable to prevent them from dropping out of Spain's top flight.

The experienced forward is in his second spell at Real Madrid, previously playing for the club between 2009 and 2012, scoring 40 times for Real Madrid Castilla, while he managed two goals in two outings for the first team.

Joselu has been a regular for Ancelotti's side this term, but he could find it more difficult to secure action next season if Kylian Mbappe, as expected, arrives this summer.

Mbappe will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer at the end of the season, and the France international is set to make the move to Bernabeu.

Joselu is currently with the Spain squad preparing for their friendlies with Colombia and Brazil, and he will be bidding to add to the five goals that he has managed in nine caps for La Roja.