Real Madrid News
Liverpool favourites to sign €150 million Real Madrid target, talks more advanced – report
According to BILD’s Christian Falk, Liverpool are currently leading the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham and are more advanced in talks related to the player than Real Madrid.
Bellingham, 19, has caused a massive stir across Europe with his scintillating displays at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His demand has risen to an extent that even Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi did not shy away from admitting that his team wants the midfielder too.
“Everybody wants him, I’m not going to hide it. He’s at his club, and (we have) respect, so if we want to talk to him we’ll talk to the club first,” the PSG president said.
As it turns out, though, Falk has said that Bellingham and his family are preferring a move to Liverpool instead, which could come as a huge blow to Real Madrid as they continue to look for a midfielder for the 2023-24 season.
As reported before, Bellingham’s market price is increasing after each game he plays for his national team at the world event. So as of today, any team that wants to acquire his services will have to reportedly shell out €150 million and this is something the Madrid management is totally against.
The Merengues are of the idea that spending the aforementioned amount for a player in a single transfer window could jeopardise the economic stability of the club, meaning that the team has more or less admitted that they are virtually out of the race anyway.
It must be noted that Bellingham’s ongoing deal with Dortmund runs until 2025 and the 19-year-old is expected to leave at the end of the current season.
But as far as his links with Real Madrid are concerned, the team from the Spanish capital city is awaiting for the player’s decision as it could be the only way they can land him for a fee lower than the €150 million figure being mentioned.
As things stand, though, talks with Liverpool are more advanced than with Real Madrid, with Bellingham’s family also leaning towards him moving back to England.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool monitoring 19-year-old Bundesliga wonderkid – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all monitoring Bayer Leverkusen and Germany wonderkid Florian Wirtz.
After recovering from his ACL injury, the teenage sensation has been slowly working his way back to his best form. So far this term, Wirtz has managed to rack up a tally of two goals and six assists from 13 matches in all competitions.
The 19-year-old’s talent and potential have never been in question and hence it does not come as a surprise that elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the German international.
A versatile attacking midfielder, Wirtz is capable of playing anywhere in the final third of the pitch and backs up with top-notch end product. Be it as a false-nine or in a more withdrawn role, the youngster has excelled for Bayer Leverkusen, catching the attention of top teams.
Real Madrid, for their part, are also understood to be among Wirtz’s admirers. Given the situation surrounding Karim Benzema’s fitness and the lack of backup at the top, the youngster could be an option, as he has shown potential while operating through the middle.
But Barcelona also have a strong interest in the teenager with reports even suggesting that they have already made contact with his father to enquire about his situation.
At the same time, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is understood to be a huge admirer of his fellow German and with Roberto Firmino on his way out, Wirtz could be lined up as a possible replacement.
However, Romano adds that the expectation is that Wirtz could stay at Bayer Leverkusen for one more year and depart Germany once the UEFA Euro 2024 is out of the way.
For now, there have been talks or negotiations with any clubs, but Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are all tracking Wirtz and his progress in Germany.
