'Morata Real's elephant in the room'

Real's front line has come under serious scrutiny, with Karim Benzema having only managed two goals in 13 games so far this season and Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema only scoring twice between them in the league at the 12-game mark.

That tally makes them Europe's second worst striking pair, with Gibson of the belief that Morata should not have been sold.

The Spanish international joined Chelsea in a big-money move during the summer after he was told that he would remain second choice up front behind Benzema, despite scoring more goals than the Frenchman in less games last season.

Morata has already been involved in 12 goals in his first 11 games in the English top flight, something which Gibson believes is demonstrtive of why he should still be a Real Madrid player.

Speaking on his 'La Liga Weekly Podcast', Gibson said: "Morata is the elephant in the room for Real Madrid. He's five years younger than (Karim) Benzema, was in better form last season and should've got more games.

"(Cristiano) Ronaldo is 32, so they'll have to be in the market soon for another centre forward. There's a lack of movement from the front pair, and most of Ronaldo's goals in the last couple of season have been one-touch finishes.

"At the moment it doesn't seem to be suiting him with his back to goal. All the goals he scored, he was the final piece of the jigsaw, supplied service by a fantastic pass.

"His finishing is very direct and reliant on power as the last part of the puzzle. I just wonder now if he's not entirely comfortable with his back to goal, and whether it might be an idea to put him back onto the left and change the system slightly.

"He's not getting those opportunities at the moment, so there needs to be a change of style from Real Madrid. Whether Zidane will change it or not, I don't think so."

When the subject of Real potentially bringing in another top striker came up, gibson had this to say: "The plan is to wait. On Bale, he doesn't want to leave, thinks he'll be better when he comes back, and he's been told by the club there's no intention to sell him next summer.

"Ronaldo said before the international break, 'I want to leave, let me go', but Florentino Perez said to him, 'no offer came for you last summer, and you have a £1billion buy-out clause', so he won't be leaving.

"It'll have to be Benzema (who is sold). But there's not a number nine that suits Ronaldo. Harry Kane says he wants to stay at Spurs. Another player they are looking at is (Eden) Hazard, but that could affect Isco. So they should get Morata back."