Fabrizio Romano confirms £75m Liverpool target on brink of move

Liverpool are stuck in a rut - down in eighth place in the Premier League table after 14 matches and looking unlikely to defend their crown.

Arne Slot is struggling to turn the team’s bad form around - despite a weekend win at West Ham. On Wednesday the Reds dropped two more points – drawing 1-1 with newly-promoted Sunderland at Anfield.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this for the top-flight champions - especially after a record-breaking transfer window. Richard Hughes spent £450m on new players - including British record deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Liverpool linked once again with Rodrygo

But those deals have not yet paid off - with Liverpool still looking quite pedestrian in attack.

Something is going to have to change before it gets better and it’s been suggested that the Anfield club could go back into the market for even more reinforcements.

And now Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that two suitors have been eliminated from the race for one long-term forward target in the shape of Rodrygo.

The 24-year-old Real Madrid attacker is suffering a horrendous season under new head coach Xabi Alonso - and is currently on a 31-game run without a goal.

Arsenal and Chelsea eliminated from Rodrygo race

Accordingly Rodrygo could leave as soon as January - with Madrid willing to cash in on the Brazilian for a fee starting at £75m.

Liverpool have been keen on Rodrygo for a long time - competing with Madrid for his signature before he joined the Spanish capital club from Santos in 2019.

Under contract until 2028, it was believed that Rodrygo was attracting the attention of Arsenal and Chelsea - as well as Liverpool and Manchester City.

But Romano now believes that the two London sides are out of the picture - and adds that he expects Rodrygo to quit the Bernabeu in 2026.

Could Rodrygo leave? Yes

“So, on the reports on the future of Rodrygo: 0% about Chelsea,” Romano told his YouTube audience.

“Forget about Rodrygo and Chelsea. We keep having that kind of rumours. There is nothing for January.

“Also about Arsenal — that story is not true. Arsenal are not working on a deal for Rodrygo in the January transfer window.

“The situation with Rodrygo: could he leave Real Madrid in 2026? My answer is yes.

“It's a possibility if they receive a good proposal. And when I say “they,” it's Rodrygo and it's Real Madrid. Both sides — that could be a possibility.

“Man City wanted him last summer. Let's see what's going to happen in 2026. At the moment it's still quiet, so still trying to find an internal solution to the problem, with Rodrygo reacting, scoring maybe a goal, breaking this bad moment, and trying to move forward.

“Then, if that's not going to be possible, I think we should keep the doors open in 2026 for a potential transfer for Rodrygo.”

Rodrygo suffering under Xabi Alonso

Rodrygo remains one of the world’s best forwards but it’s clear he needs a change in his circumstances.

He was mooted as a potential departure last summer but opted to stay and fight for his place under Alonso.

With Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and others all ahead of him in the pecking order, the Brazil international has been short of game time this term.

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