Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch is being touted for a shock move to Real Madrid, after impressing this season.
The Reds comfortably humbled Los Blancos 2-0 at Anfield last night in the Champions League, using the fixture almost as a rehearsal for the Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend. Kylian Mbappe underwhelmed, while Arne Slot's side looked imperious.
But with Liverpool's 100 per cent record in the new Champions League format still intact, attention is turning to a number of players with uncertain futures.
Liverpool are in talks today with Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold is heavily rumoured for a switch to Real Madrid(Image credit: Getty Images)
Liverpool have three players whose contracts run out at the end of the season, in Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the latter heavily linked with Real Madrid, while Alisson is heavily rumoured to be leaving, too, with Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving next summer.
Spanish outlet Marca have revealed that Liverpool and Real are meeting today to discuss transfer activity face-to-face, in what say is, “unusual between clubs, but given the good relationship between the two, logical”.
Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool saves a penalty from Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 27, 2024 in Liverpool, England.
Liverpool beat Real Madrid last night(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold's future is a clear topic of conversation for the meeting, but two midfielders are also under discussion, according to Fichajes.
The outlet notes that Liverpool's longstanding interest in Aurelien Tchouameni will be talked about – with the twist that Ryan Gravenberch could be used as a makeweight to sign the Frenchman.
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Gravenberch has been reinvented as a No.6 this season to great effect, as one of the Reds' most impressive performers all campaign. Despite the Dutchman's revelatory form though, the Merseysiders have reportedly already spoken to Real Madrid previously about buying Tchouameni next summer.
The Frenchman, ranked at no.6 in FourFourTwo's list of the best defensive midfielders in the world right now, was said to be put up for sale earlier this season – and didn't play last night, due to an injury issue that forced him out of the trip.
Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid reacts as he leaves the pitch during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Tchouameni could be about to arrive at Liverpool(Image credit: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In FourFourTwo's opinion, however, this is an incredibly far-fetched rumour. Gravenberch has been one of Liverpool's star players this season and with the expected churn next summer, Arne Slot would be loathed to lose another reliable performer – however much he wants Tchouameni.
Tchouameni is valued to be worth €100 million by Transfermarkt. Liverpool take on Manchester City this weekend when Premier League action returns/.
The current status on Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold, according to Liverpool expert, Matt Ladson
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: (THE SUN OUT,THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT ) Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool before the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Anfield on October 29, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
All three Liverpool players could leave this summer(Image credit: Getty Images)
The consensus among supporters is that Van Dijk will stay; most believe the captain will sign a new contract relatively soon, and all signs so far do point to as much.
Salah has been quite public about his contract situation, stunning everyone back in September by saying: “Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts, so I’ve said ‘OK, I’ll play my last season and in the end we’ll see’.”
And then you have Trent. For Liverpool to lose their local, homegrown hero, at age 26 in his absolute prime years, on a free transfer, would be one of the biggest failings in the club’s history. A PR nightmare for the owners.
So the fans think Van Dijk will stay, Salah will likely stay, but as for Trent there’s a whole lot of doubt.