Liverpool have been linked with a move for Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, but he has now agreed to sign for Real Madrid.
Right-back proved to be a problem position for the Reds in 2025/26, with Conor Bradley suffering a serious knee injury midway through the campaign.
Jeremie Frimpong also struggled to settle, having been a wing-back at Bayer Leverkusen, with Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones all having to fill in.
In January, it was the Times‘ Paul Joyce wrote that Liverpool were “considering” the Dutchman, but journalist Fabrizio Romano now says that Real Madrid are set to sign him instead.
DOHA, QATAR - Saturday, December 3, 2022: Netherlands' Denzel Dumfries celebrates with team-mate Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (L) after scoring the third goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. Netherlands won 3-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He states that the Spanish giants will trigger the €20 million (£17.2m) release clause in his Inter contract, with “formal steps to follow.”
Jose Mourinho is back at Madrid for a second time, with the Portuguese sanctioning the signings of both the Dutchman and Ibrahima Konate, who has departed Liverpool on a free transfer.
Would Denzel Dumfries have been ideal for Liverpool?
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. Liverpool won 2-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Dumfries has enjoyed an impressive career and is a footballer of genuine pedigree, having reached two Champions League finals with Inter.
He is also a two-time Serie A champion and is expected to feature prominently alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
While there is plenty to like about Dumfries, he has just turned 30, with years of marauding runs down the right flank potentially catching up with him.
Liverpool signing him would, therefore, have had its risks, and he would have no sell-on value at this point in his career.
The Reds would be wiser to sign a younger right-back instead, with Brentford‘s Michael Kayode and Atalanta’s Marco Palestra – both 21 years of age – loosely linked with moves to Anfield in recent days.
Bringing in Dumfries for a few years may have ultimately been shrewd business by Liverpool, but it is also easy to see the physical demands of the Premier League being tough for him.
Not good news for Trent Alexander-Arnold!
Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid (Peter Byrne/PA)
One thing’s for sure: Dumfries’ imminent arrival at Madrid may not spell good news for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The former Liverpool right-back had an unconvincing first season in Spain, and it looks as though Mourinho immediately wants competition for him at the very least.
Alexander-Arnold will know he has to kick on in his second season, or risk wondering if leaving his boyhood club was the right decision.
It’s certainly hard to see such a defensively-focused manager in Mourinho loving his approach to defending!