Real Madrid are stepping up their chase of Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, Tuttomercatoweb report.

With an ongoing dispute between the player and Inter over a new contract having seen Icardi benched and stripped of the club captaincy, there is a growing likelihood that the Argentina international is on his way out of Milan, with Madrid having been mooted as a potential destination.

According to the report, the La Liga club made contact with Icardi’s camp on Monday, the same day Zinedine Zidane returned to take over as manager, a possible indication that the Frenchman has identified Icardi as a summer transfer target.

Though Zidane refused to confirm what he had discussed with the Los Blancos hierarchy, it is expected that he has been promised the authority to make changes to the squad, along with a sizable transfer kitty, in order to convince him to return to the job he resigned from only last summer.

Zidane has a good relationship with compatriot Karim Benzema, Madrid’s incumbent No. 9, but though the Frenchman is having a prolific season, the club have struggled for goals since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last July, and thus are looking for reinforcements up front.

The 26-year-old Icardi is being viewed as a long-term option at striker by Madrid as well as several other leading European clubs, with Inter’s Serie A rivals Napoli and Juventus also said to be monitoring the Argentine’s situation at his current club.

Napoli have reportedly offered Icardi €9 million per season, plus €2m in bonuses.