Following a solid debut in the European elite, Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv is showing that its quarter-final appearance in the EuroLeague is just the beginning of a much bigger ambition. The club's management has launched an early offensive on several prominent names from the EuroLeague, with one target standing out.

According to foreign media, Hapoel's top priority is Real Madrid's wing center Trey Lyles, who was previously on their radar but chose to join the "royal club" instead. The situation at Real Madrid, however, remains unclear. While Real Madrid wants to retain Lyles, negotiations for a new contract are reportedly not going smoothly due to the player's financial demands.

Lyles is reportedly asking for a significant salary increase, potentially reaching around three million euros per season. This is a substantial expense even for the Madrid giants. Hapoel sees its opportunity here and is prepared to enter direct competition for the player, attempting to lure him away from Real Madrid.

The team led by Dimitris Itudis has been closely monitoring the situation since May and preparing the ground for a potential transfer, aware that bringing in a player of Lyles' caliber would be a clear signal of the club's intention to elevate its status in the EuroLeague. For now, everything is in the interest and preliminary contact phase, but it is clear that the summer transfer window could bring a serious battle between ambitious Hapoel Tel Aviv and the European giant from Madrid.