Incredible £79m swap deal Liverpool should make for Ballon d'Or runner-up with Arne Slot leading transfer race
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and a common sense swap deal could seal a big-money transfer.
Liverpool continue to be linked with a host of top players to strengthen the forward line with Arne Slot not quite giving up hopes of being involved in the title race later in the season.
The Reds boss has seen several names mentioned as possible options with an audacious move for Iliman Ndiaye sure to rub the blue half of the city up the wrong way. Transfer supremo Fabrizio Romano also claims that Antoine Semenyo could yet head to Anfield in what has been a long suggested Premier League switch.
Liverpool lead the chase for Rodrygo
One name that did the rounds last summer was Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, a player who, on the face of it, shouldn’t be considered given his 30 plus game goal drought that extends to last season with the Brazilian clearly experiencing a crisis of confidence.
The 24-year old has been in and out of Los Blancos team since last season and the arrival of Kylian Mbappe with speculatoin surrounding his future since the France international’s blockbuster transfer from PSG was announced.
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool lead the chase for Rodrygo alongside Arsenal but they could steal a march with an early move in January by including a player in the deal who has long been courted by Madrid. Recent reports suggest that Madrid might have moved on from Ibrahima Konate, however, it may be due to the competition for his signature.
Should Liverpool offer Konate early in January, as part of an offer for Rodrygo, it might be one that they find more attractive. With Dean Huijsen failing to settle, an experienced centre-half could be considered.
What is Rodrygo’s position on Real Madrid exit?
Rodrygo has long been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu with European football expert Andy Brassell telling talkSPORT that the player’s future could be linked with a teammates: “If you were looking to generate funds, he might be one of the guys you think of because he's someone with a big market value who is proven at the absolute top level, but just doesn't really fit at the moment.
“And there's so much competition around him, and it's difficult to see that changing. But is he at the real peak of his value? Of course, they were asking around €90million (£79m) for him now. Who's paying that at the moment when he's quite plainly out of nick?"
On Rodrygo, he continued: “To me, if you're looking at him staying at Real Madrid, if there's a point where Real Madrid decide they’re past Vinicius Junior, if they're moving past him, they would keep Rodrygo. So, Rodrygo, it feels as if the situation in which he would make most sense, is if they decided they were going to cash in on Vinicius."
Rodrygo has spent a long time in the shadow of others at Real Madrid. He has 68 goals and 53 assists for the Spanish giants and now could well be the time for him to show that he can be the main man and replace an Anfield legend in Mohamed Salah.