Real Madrid – The Empire of The Kop https://www.empireofthekop.com Blog about Liverpool F.C. (LFC) and the Kop from true supporters for supporters worldwide. Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:43:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9 95610221 Real Madrid ready to pay £70m+ for Liverpool stalwart to replace 5-time Champions League winner https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/11/13/real-madrid-trent-liverpool-transfer-rumours/ https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/11/13/real-madrid-trent-liverpool-transfer-rumours/#comments Mon, 13 Nov 2023 19:30:55 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=244696 According to reports from Spain, Real Madrid are prepared to dig deep into their pockets to try and lure one Liverpool stalwart to the Bernabeu next year. Fichajes claimed that Carlo Ancelotti’s side are ‘willing to put an offer of more than €80m [£70m] on the table’ for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who they have in mind […]

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According to reports from Spain, Real Madrid are prepared to dig deep into their pockets to try and lure one Liverpool stalwart to the Bernabeu next year.

Fichajes claimed that Carlo Ancelotti’s side are ‘willing to put an offer of more than €80m [£70m] on the table’ for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who they have in mind as the long-term successor to five-time Champions League winner Dani Carvajal at right-back.

The report stated that while the current manager is highly likely to depart the LaLiga giants at the end of this season, he’d still sanction any possible move for the 25-year-old.

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It was reported by 90min in September that Real Madrid were showing an ‘active interest’ in Trent, with Liverpool seeking to finalise terms over a possible long-term contract at Anfield for the England international.

It duly seems that Los Blancos have had the Reds academy graduate in mind for some time, and with him being nearly seven years younger than Carvajal, they may view him as the perfect replacement for the Bernabeu stalwart in the long-term.

However, with LFC’s number 66 being named vice-captain in the summer, and him being a proud Liverpudlian living out his childhood dream, there’s plenty of incentive for him to remain on Merseyside and win more trophies with his boyhood club.

Of course, nothing can be taken for granted in the modern transfer market, but with Trent going from breakout academy talent to a first-team pillar with nearly 300 senior appearances under Jurgen Klopp, he’s been shown enormous faith by his manager.

Even the allure of 14-time European champions Real Madrid mightn’t be enough to entice the 25-year-old away from Anfield, so if Bernabeu chiefs want to find their successor to Carvajal, they may need to divert their attention elsewhere.

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Liverpool could yet again be thwarted by familiar foes in transfer race for 22y/o who Klopp adores https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/11/02/inacio-real-madrid-liverpool-transfer-rumours/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:50:35 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=244182 Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool fans must be positively sick of the sight of Real Madrid, both on and off the pitch. Not only have Los Blancos dashed our Champions League hopes in each of the last three seasons (and four of the last six), they also beat the Reds to the signings of both Aurelien […]

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Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool fans must be positively sick of the sight of Real Madrid, both on and off the pitch.

Not only have Los Blancos dashed our Champions League hopes in each of the last three seasons (and four of the last six), they also beat the Reds to the signings of both Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham over the past 18 months – and they may be poised to do so again over another mutual target.

According to AS, both clubs (along with Manchester United) are interested in signing Goncalo Inacio, and it’s reported that the Sporting Lisbon defender ‘would give priority’ to a move to the Bernabeu.

READ MORE: West Ham fan sardonically suggests Liverpool may already have one foot in Carabao Cup last four

READ MORE: Journalist claims Liverpool-linked midfielder mightn’t extend current deal after ‘chaotic year’

The Liverpool hierarchy may well have that sinking feeling yet again when it comes to a transfer target who’s also wanted by Real Madrid.

If the 22-year-old’s preference is to join Carlo Ancelotti’s side next year, the Reds could have a significant challenge on their hands to try and convince the player of a move to Anfield instead, despite Steve Kay telling the Empire of the Kop podcast in September that Inacio has been Klopp’s ‘number one target’ at centre-back.

The Portugal defender – who has a release clause of €60m (£52.3m) – is renowned for his excellent distribution, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in Europe over the last 12 months for progressive passes per game (8.96) and the top 6% for pass completion (89.3%), as per FBref.

Liverpool will surely be determined not to let Real Madrid oust them for a player yet again, so Jorg Schmadtke and co might spare no effort in trying to persuade the Sporting Lisbon gem to choose them over Los Blancos.

If it comes off, it’d look like a masterstroke signing. If it doesn’t, at least we have a hugely prodigious centre-back of our own coming through in Jarell Quansah.

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(Video) Bad blood between ex-Liverpool duo continues as full-time whistle met with brawl https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/10/30/torres-arbeloa-feud-madrid-liverpool/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:33:29 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=244029 Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa were teammates at Liverpool for two years between 2007 and 2009, but the duo have struck up a feud now that they’re on opposite sides of a deep-rooted city rivalry as coaches. The pair are in charge of the Atletico and Real Madrid youth teams respectively, with the sides facing […]

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Fernando Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa were teammates at Liverpool for two years between 2007 and 2009, but the duo have struck up a feud now that they’re on opposite sides of a deep-rooted city rivalry as coaches.

The pair are in charge of the Atletico and Real Madrid youth teams respectively, with the sides facing off over the weekend as the former prevailed 2-1.

During another derby clash earlier this year, the former Anfield duo squared up to each other on the touchline (talkSPORT), and the animosity seemed apparent once again in recent days.

A video clip shared on social media by Marca shows losing manager Arbeloa staring darkly at Torres in the opposite technical area upon the full-time whistle being blown and walking straight back towards the dressing rooms without acknowledging his ex-Liverpool teammate.

A few seconds later, players from both teams indulged in a mass brawl on the pitch, as hostilities between the city rivals overspilled.

It’s a shame that there now seems to be such bad blood between the duo who both played their part in the Reds almost winning the Premier League in 2008/09 now have such bad blood between them, but that appears an inevitable consequence of their direct Madrid coaching rivalry.

You can see the incident with Arbeloa and Torres below, via @Marca on Twitter/X:

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Two clubs may have edge over Liverpool for Xabi Alonso – but he could still be Klopp’s successor https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/10/11/alonso-liverpool-real-madrid-bayern/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:31:45 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=242926 According to reports from Germany, Liverpool are one of three clubs with whom Xabi Alonso has an ‘agreement’ regarding a potential managerial stint in the future. SportBILD claimed [via Sport Witness] that the 41-year-old has a clause in his contract at Bayer Leverkusen which’d allow him to depart next summer if the Reds – or […]

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According to reports from Germany, Liverpool are one of three clubs with whom Xabi Alonso has an ‘agreement’ regarding a potential managerial stint in the future.

SportBILD claimed [via Sport Witness] that the 41-year-old has a clause in his contract at Bayer Leverkusen which’d allow him to depart next summer if the Reds – or two of his other alma maters in Real Madrid and Bayern Munich – were to offer him the manager’s job.

The hierarchy at the BayArena are ‘currently doing everything then can to satisfy their coach, believing that they are on the path to success with him in charge’, although the LaLiga giants are already reported to have eyed him up as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at the Bernabeu.

READ MORE: LaLiga giants eyeing potential 2024 swoop for ‘intelligent’ Liverpool maestro – report

READ MORE: ‘He’s the one…’ – Stephen Warnock names the player he’d like at Liverpool as Salah’s successor

Of the three clubs involved in the reported agreement, Liverpool probably seem the least likely to hire Alonso next summer.

Ancelotti’s contract in Madrid expires in 2024, with the ex-Chelsea boss touted to take the Brazil national team job, while Thomas Tuchel could possibly be on thin ice at Bayern amid claims that honorary president Uli Hoeness ‘continues to stir up managerial winds behind the scenes’ in Munich.

By contrast, Jurgen Klopp is contracted at Anfield until 2026 and has a mountain of credit in the bank among the fan base.

However, even if Alonso were to take the manager’s job at the Bernabeu or Allianz Arena next year, there’s still a good chance that he’d ultimately take over from the current Liverpool boss on Merseyside.

Real Madrid and Bayern have both sacked coaches in the past despite them leading – or even winning – their domestic league, a cut-throat culture which is in marked contrast to that at LFC.

By the time Klopp goes in 2026 (as per the current plan), Alonso may well be on the market again if one of his other previous clubs both hires and fires him in the meantime, and he’d very likely be given the scope to properly make his mark in the Anfield dugout.

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Liverpool handed a boost with Real Madrid’s stance on Klopp’s preferred Salah successor – report https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/26/rodrygo-liverpool-transfer-rumours-madrid/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:24:12 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=241877 According to reports from Spain, Liverpool have been handed a boost to their hopes of landing the player who’s apparently Jurgen Klopp’s preferred long-term successor to Mo Salah at Anfield. El Nacional have claimed that Real Madrid are open to accepting offers in the region of €100m (£87m) for Rodrygo, who’s deemed to have struggled […]

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According to reports from Spain, Liverpool have been handed a boost to their hopes of landing the player who’s apparently Jurgen Klopp’s preferred long-term successor to Mo Salah at Anfield.

El Nacional have claimed that Real Madrid are open to accepting offers in the region of €100m (£87m) for Rodrygo, who’s deemed to have struggled at the Bernabeu since being redeployed at centre-forward to fill the void left by Karim Benzema’s summer departure.

The hierarchy at the LaLiga club ‘cannot hide the terrible disappointment they feel’ with the Brazil international, with speculation duly mounting about a potential departure at the end of the season.

The report adds that Rodrygo is considered ‘Klopp’s chosen one’ to replace Salah at Liverpool whenever the Egyptian’s time on Merseyside ends, amid the 31-year-old being strongly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League earlier this month (The Guardian).

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We’d take these reports with a pinch of salt, primarily because they suggest that Liverpool’s number 11 would ‘consider packing his suitcases’ for Saudi Arabia next year, even though his contract runs until 2025 and his agent recently reaffirmed the forward’s loyalty to his current club.

Also, why would the Reds spend nearly £100m on a player in a position where there’s no need for reinforcements as things stand, especially when other parts of the squad require more urgent attention in 2024?

While it’s true that Rodrygo hasn’t taken flight at centre-forward so far this term, netting just once in seven games (Transfermarkt), he’s been pulled out of his preferred position to try and fill the huge void left by the exit of a club legend in Benzema.

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If it’s true that the 22-year-old is Klopp’s preference as Salah’s long-term successor at Liverpool, we’re all for it, but again we’d be sceptical of that claim considering the ongoing links with other wide attackers such as Jarrod Bowen.

In any event, all such speculation is moot so long as the Egyptian King is happy at Anfield and continuing to produce the goods, with him currently on a 13-match sequence in which he’s either scored or set up a goal for his club.

At least it seems that Real Madrid could be willing to offload Rodrygo if the Reds feel a need to move for him in the future.

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Liverpool’s challenge before January transfer window, mentality monsters back? Reds player ‘hung out to dry’ and much more!

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(Video) Ian Wright claims Liverpool ace with ‘foot on the pedal’ is clear of Real Madrid counterpart https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/22/ian-wright-salah-vinicius-jr/ Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:34:33 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=241619 Ian Wright has voiced his belief that Liverpool forward Mo Salah is even better than his Real Madrid counterpart Vinicius Jr. The BBC pundit was asked to choose between the two during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, and his answer would’ve elicited nods of approval from anyone of a Reds persuasion. The former Arsenal […]

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Ian Wright has voiced his belief that Liverpool forward Mo Salah is even better than his Real Madrid counterpart Vinicius Jr.

The BBC pundit was asked to choose between the two during an appearance on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, and his answer would’ve elicited nods of approval from anyone of a Reds persuasion.

The former Arsenal striker explained: “What you have to say about Mo is that when Liverpool signed him from Roma, you kind of went ‘Mo Salah?’. 

“He’s not looked back. That man’s just got in the fast lane and has still got his foot on the pedal. That’s why these people [Al-Ittihad] are offering crazy money…I’m going to say Mo Salah for what he’s done.”

Vinicius is undoubtedly a fantastic footballer who, as Liverpool discovered to their cost in the 2022 Champions League final, is a man for the big occasion. He can boast a solid overall output, too, with 60 goals and 64 assists in 228 games for his club (Transfermarkt), a fine return for a 23-year-old.

However, he needs to replicate that for another few years if he’s to get to the levels that Salah has reached at Anfield, with the Egyptian our fifth-highest scorer of all time with 189 goals in 311 appearances (Transfermarkt).

He’s continuing to produce the goods consistently, too, with his late strike against LASK on Thursday making it 12 successive LFC matches in which he’s either scored or set up a goal.

We wouldn’t swap The Egyptian King for any other player in the world, it’s that simple.

You can see Wright’s comments below (from 12:22), via Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE on YouTube):

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Liverpool and Real Madrid could vie for £105k-p/w wiz; won 8 duels in UCL game this week – report https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/22/rafael-leao-liverpool-transfer-rumours/ Fri, 22 Sep 2023 08:16:01 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=241599 According to reports from Spain, Liverpool and Real Madrid could go head-to-head in the race to sign an attacker who might yield a nine-figure transfer fee. Fichajes have claimed that the two European giants are looking at a potential move for Rafael Leao, who’s impressed scouts from Merseyside and the Spanish capital ‘due to his […]

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According to reports from Spain, Liverpool and Real Madrid could go head-to-head in the race to sign an attacker who might yield a nine-figure transfer fee.

Fichajes have claimed that the two European giants are looking at a potential move for Rafael Leao, who’s impressed scouts from Merseyside and the Spanish capital ‘due to his versatility, speed and ability to score goals’.

The AC Milan attacker is believed to be open to joining either club because of their ‘magnitude and prestige’, although the Rossoneri are set to demand at least €150m (£130m) as they consider the 24-year-old ‘a fundamental piece in their project’.

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Leao – who earns just over £105k per week (Capology) – has an impressive track record in Italy, with 40 goals and 30 assists in 134 Serie A appearances, registering four goal contributions across his last three league games (Transfermarkt).

Although he and his Milan teammates were frustrated by Newcastle in the Champions League in midweek, he made life difficult for Eddie Howe’s side by winning a team-high eight duels, completing three dribbles, taking two shots and creating one ‘big chance’ (Sofascore).

The 6 foot 3 winger can certainly be a handful for opposition defences, and he boasts the ability to play anywhere across the forward line (Transfermarkt), thus affording tremendous tactical flexibility to any coach who works with him.

While Leao certainly seems an exciting talent, we’d be inclined not to get too carried away by the reports from Spain.

Liverpool are already well stocked in attack, with other parts of the squad likely to be given greater priority in January, and it might be hard to envisage the Reds spending £130m on him when taking that into account.

Nonetheless, it’ll be intriguing to see if anything further develops in this regard throughout the autumn, and whether the Portuguese forward can continue his recent fine form at the San Siro.

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Liverpool’s challenge before January transfer window, mentality monsters back? Reds player ‘hung out to dry’ and much more!

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(Video) Real Madrid could turn Alexander-Arnold’s head amidst contract talks at Liverpool – report https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/19/real-madrid-alexander-arnold-contract/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:39:07 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=241435 Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with signing a new contract at Liverpool which would extend his stay at Anfield but one journalist seems to think that Real Madrid could be a reason for our No.66 to leave Merseyside. Speaking on BBC Sounds’ Football Gossip Daily, The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson said: “If Klopp was to leave, a new person […]

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with signing a new contract at Liverpool which would extend his stay at Anfield but one journalist seems to think that Real Madrid could be a reason for our No.66 to leave Merseyside.

Speaking on BBC Sounds’ Football Gossip Daily, The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson said: “If Klopp was to leave, a new person comes in and maybe it doesn’t sort of quite match, or at that point maybe Trent himself thinks, ‘you know what? I’ve been here this long…’

“And if Real Madrid come knocking for you seriously, whoever you are, I think it’s very difficult because you only get one career and wow it’s Real Madrid. I don’t care who you support, they have a certain cache that club”.

READ MORE: (Video) Bobby Clark impresses on EFL Trophy duty by scoring Liverpool U21s third without reply

It does seem as though the journalist thinks that a move to Spain could be a destination for the Scouser in the long-term future and not right now but it’s certainly not a link that anyone of a red persuasion will enjoy hearing.

Given his lifelong ties with the Reds, we all hope that the 24-year-old can see out his career at the club and go on to captain the team that he’s followed all his life – never swaying by any moves for funds or fortune elsewhere.

You can watch Jackon’s comments on Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid via BBC Sport and BBC Sounds:

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Liverpool’s challenge before January transfer window, mentality monsters back? Reds player ‘hung out to dry’ and much more!

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£342k-p/w maestro lined up as potential Salah successor makes his position clear amid LFC links https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/12/vinicius-jr-liverpool-transfer-rumours/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:17:46 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=240983 One high-profile forward who’s been linked with a move to Liverpool has made his standpoint clear amid that recent transfer speculation. According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Vinicius Junior is an object of desire among the Anfield hierarchy and has been lined up as a prospective long-term successor to Mo Salah on Merseyside, with Saudi […]

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One high-profile forward who’s been linked with a move to Liverpool has made his standpoint clear amid that recent transfer speculation.

According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Vinicius Junior is an object of desire among the Anfield hierarchy and has been lined up as a prospective long-term successor to Mo Salah on Merseyside, with Saudi Arabian efforts to sign the Egyptian placing his future under the microscope.

However, the £342k-per-week Real Madrid star (Capology) is adamant that he doesn’t want to leave the LaLiga giants any time soon, with the rumours of a potential transfer ‘not to his liking’ and the 23-year-old promptly dismissing any noise over his status at the Bernabeu.

READ MORE: ‘Perfect’, ‘So brave’ – Former Liverpool player left in awe of ‘superhuman’ Anfield stalwart

READ MORE: Liverpool fans will be both relieved and amused as to why Tsimikas didn’t play for Greece on Sunday

Liverpool fans will have already had their fill of Vinicius playing against them, with the Brazilian scoring five goals across the five occasions that he’s faced the Reds, including the winner in the 2022 Champions League final and a brace at Anfield last season (Transfermarkt).

Remarkably, almost 10% of his 60 goals for Real Madrid (Transfermarkt) have been at our expense, so it’s no wonder why Jurgen Klopp would supposedly like him to fill the void left by Salah whenever the Egyptian King eventually departs.

However, even if the 23-year-old had eyes on a transfer, his importance to Carlo Ancelotti’s side would make him almost impossible to acquire. In any case, the forward has made it quite clear that a move to Merseyside is a no-go for the time being.

The unenviable moment will come for Liverpool that they have to replace Salah, who’s been such a massive figure at Anfield that his successor will need to be chosen very wisely.

Vinicius was namechecked in a recent piece by The Athletic as one option, and he’d be one of the few wingers in the world who looks capable of filling that eventual void straight away. The trouble will likely be in trying to convince him and Real Madrid chiefs of a move to the Reds.

#Ep89 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones🎙

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Jude Bellingham posts 4-word salute to Liverpool summer transfer target who netted last night https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/08/bellingham-praise-tchouameni-goal-france/ https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/08/bellingham-praise-tchouameni-goal-france/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:46:49 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=240742 In a utopian world for Liverpool fans, Jude Bellingham would now be a Reds player, and one of his current teammates would also be with him at Anfield. The Merseysiders had been chasing the England star for months until finally abandoning their pursuit in April, leaving Real Madrid with a clear path to win the […]

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In a utopian world for Liverpool fans, Jude Bellingham would now be a Reds player, and one of his current teammates would also be with him at Anfield.

The Merseysiders had been chasing the England star for months until finally abandoning their pursuit in April, leaving Real Madrid with a clear path to win the race for his highly coveted signature.

The 20-year-old joined a midfield which also contains Aurelien Tchouameni, who LFC had unsuccessfully tried to sign in 2022 and were again linked with a move last month by David Ornstein.

The France international was on target for his country on Thursday night as they defeated Republic of Ireland 2-0 in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Paris, opening the scoring with a sublime finish from just outside the penalty area.

Real Madrid’s official social media channels duly highlighted the 23-year-old’s goal, with Bellingham sharing the club’s post along with the four-word caption ‘What a player man’, accompanied by fire and rocket emojis.

READ MORE: 4 shots, 7 duels won – Klopp will be beaming with Liverpool dynamo’s all-action international display

READ MORE: (Video) Post-match exchange between Reds trio will warm the hearts of every Liverpool fan

Even though Liverpool recruited impressively in midfield over the summer by bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, Tchouameni’s wonder goal for France nonetheless offered a glimpse of what might’ve been at Anfield.

It wasn’t just that stunning strike with which the 23-year-old caught the eye, either. As per Sofascore, he completed a team-high 102 of his 106 passes (96%), made four tackles, won four duels and executed two key passes in an all-round magnificent performance.

Meanwhile, his clubmate Bellingham has enjoyed a tremendous start to life with Real Madrid, scoring in each of his first four games as he’s racked up five goals and an assist already (Transfermarkt).

The finances which would’ve been involved in Liverpool bringing in both him and Tchouameni would’ve been staggering, but such is the way of the modern transfer market.

The thought of those two lining up in the same midfield at Anfield is a blissful one, but instead it’s fans of Los Blancos who get to have that pleasure every week.

Still, judging by how the likes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have begun their respective Reds careers, we won’t be complaining about the business LFC ultimately pulled off!

#Ep89 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones🎙

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Report: £134k-p/w Real Madrid dynamo feels he made a mistake to snub Liverpool’s summer interest https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/04/valverde-regret-liverpool-transfer-snub/ https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/09/04/valverde-regret-liverpool-transfer-snub/#comments Mon, 04 Sep 2023 17:41:14 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=240569 According to reports from Spain, one Real Madrid player who was linked with a summer move to Liverpool is now harbouring regrets over snubbing the Reds. In July, it was claimed by some Spanish sources that the Merseysiders had tabled a big-money offer for Federico Valverde, although the midfielder’s preference was seemingly to stay put […]

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According to reports from Spain, one Real Madrid player who was linked with a summer move to Liverpool is now harbouring regrets over snubbing the Reds.

In July, it was claimed by some Spanish sources that the Merseysiders had tabled a big-money offer for Federico Valverde, although the midfielder’s preference was seemingly to stay put at the Bernabeu.

However, as per El Nacional (via Football365), the 25-year-old now ‘half regrets’ his decision to say ‘no’ to LFC – along with Manchester United and Chelsea – as he’s been left with ‘a feeling of being secondary’ under Carlo Ancelotti.

The report adds that the £134k-per-week Uruguayan (Capology) feels the ‘best thing he could have done is to have packed his bags’, having ‘already noticed’ that he won’t be an ‘undisputed starter’ for Los Blancos this term.

READ MORE: ‘Liverpool proved…’ – £120k-p/w Premier League ace makes exciting Reds prediction

READ MORE: ‘Look at this…’ – Former EPL ref has clear verdict on legitimacy of Dominik Szoboszlai goal

Unlike Ryan Gravenberch – who made just three league starts in total for Bayern Munich before joining Liverpool last Friday (WhoScored) – Valverde hasn’t exactly been regularly overlooked by Ancelotti.

The 25-year-old has actually started three of Real Madrid’s four LaLiga games so far this term, with his 280 minutes of game-time more than the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior (WhoScored).

Even if he only had 10 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win over Getafe, he’d been ever-present in the three league matches before that (WhoScored), so it’d seems peculiar for him to complain about not feeling like an important player at the Bernabeu.

That said, we’d take these latest reports with a pinch of salt, considering how just a few weeks ago it was being claimed that Valverde sees himself as a future captain of Los Blancos and doesn’t want to uproot his young family from the Spanish capital (90min).

In any case, Liverpool addressed their need to revamp their midfield during the summer transfer window with four new arrivals, two of whom (Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai) have already made a big impression since linking up with Jurgen Klopp.

If it’s true that Valverde regrets turning down the chance to join the Reds, the ship may well have sailed for now until the time comes for that part of the squad to be considered once more.

#Ep89 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones🎙

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(Video) Fabrizio Romano delivers Liverpool transfer blow; player’s Twitter activity backs it up https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/07/15/romano-tchouameni-liverpool-transfer-latest/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 09:56:10 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=238056 Fabrizio Romano has hinted that Liverpool and other prospective suitors for Aurelien Tchouameni will find it very difficult to convince Real Madrid to sell the midfielder this summer. While the Italian and Neil Jones have both hinted recently that the Reds continue to hold a strong interest in the 23-year-old, Los Blancos view him as […]

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Fabrizio Romano has hinted that Liverpool and other prospective suitors for Aurelien Tchouameni will find it very difficult to convince Real Madrid to sell the midfielder this summer.

While the Italian and Neil Jones have both hinted recently that the Reds continue to hold a strong interest in the 23-year-old, Los Blancos view him as a crucial player and are determined to keep him at the Bernabeu.

Repots from Spain indicated that the Merseyside club had asked about him, only to be shot down by the LaLiga giants.

Romano shared a video on his eponymous YouTube channel on Friday night in which he declared: “Let me say that, from Real Madrid, the message is very clear – they want to keep the player.

“They trust Tchouameni for the present and future of the club, so it’s not going to be easy to bring Tchouameni to English football. At the moment it looks very complicated.

“Also, Carlo Ancelotti was very clear with the player. He told him that he wants Tchouameni to stay at Real Madrid and to be an important player for Real Madrid. Let’s see what happens but from Madrid, they still consider Tchouameni a crucial part of their project.”

The midfielder himself appeared to back up Romano’s assertion by liking a tweet from @RMadrid_actu which (translated from French) read: “Tchouaméni is NOT FOR SALE. @FabrizioRomano #RealMadrid. You understand? @Liverpool”, as seen in a screenshot tweeted by @theMadridZone.

With one of the most reliable transfer reporters in the business indicating that Liverpool would find it ‘very complicated’ to land Tchouameni, and the France international lending his weight to that update with his Twitter activity, it unfortunately seems highly unlikely that the Reds will land the 23-year-old.

Jorg Schmadtke and Jurgen Klopp will simply need to divert their efforts towards other, more attainable midfield transfer targets for the rest of the summer.

You can see Romano’s comments on the Real Madrid midfielder below (from 4:30), via Fabrizio Romano on YouTube:

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Federico Valverde’s Real Madrid stance revealed amid rumoured Liverpool offers – report https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/07/08/valverde-madrid-liverpool-transfer-latest/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 06:31:23 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=237633 Federico Valverde has reportedly made it very clear that he’d prefer to stay at Real Madrid despite the attention of Liverpool and other English clubs. The 24-year-old was the subject of a rumoured £77m bid from Anfield, which is believed to be the Reds’ second offer for him, but so far Los Blancos haven’t been […]

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Federico Valverde has reportedly made it very clear that he’d prefer to stay at Real Madrid despite the attention of Liverpool and other English clubs.

The 24-year-old was the subject of a rumoured £77m bid from Anfield, which is believed to be the Reds’ second offer for him, but so far Los Blancos haven’t been for turning.

Indeed, as per a new report from 90min, they’re thought to have given short shrift to enquiries from Premier League duo Chelsea and Manchester City, along with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

It’s also understood that Valverde’s preference is to remain in Madrid for professional and personal reasons. A close source outlined that the Uruguayan sees himself as a future captain at the Bernabeu, while he’s just become a father for the second time and he doesn’t want to uproot his family from the Spanish capital.

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A Liverpool move for the 24-year-old always seemed a long shot due to the fee he’d likely command, and the player himself has now more of less shot down any thoughts of a prospective move to Anfield.

Having already spent just under £100m this summer on two other midfielders in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, it’d seem most unlikely that the Reds would part with £77m to bring in another player in that position.

Any further signings would probably be in the more modest £30m-£50m bracket (Neil Jones), and with the midfield strengthened considerably, Jurgen Klopp may want to set aside plenty of the remaining budget for prospective additions in defence.

Valverde’s standing at Real Madrid is perhaps best illustrated by the presence of a staggering €1bn (£854.5m) release clause in his current contract (90min), which makes it crystal clear that any departure would either need to be pushed through by him or sanctioned by the club.

With neither of those scenarios likely to materialise any time soon, Liverpool can forget about trying to land the Uruguayan and instead concentrate their efforts on transfer targets who’d better fit their projected spending level.

#Ep79 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Dominik Szoboszlai – a mix of De Bruyne/Gerrard/Zidane?🎙

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‘Anything can happen…’ – Journalist not ruling out Liverpool pulling off transfer ‘surprise’ https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/07/05/dean-jones-valverde-liverpool-surprise/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:48:45 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=237546 One journalist has said that while it’d be a ‘surprise’ if Liverpool were to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid, he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of the transfer rumour coming to fruition. According to El Nacional (via 90min), the Reds are believed to have submitted a second bid for the midfielder, reportedly worth […]

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One journalist has said that while it’d be a ‘surprise’ if Liverpool were to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid, he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of the transfer rumour coming to fruition.

According to El Nacional (via 90min), the Reds are believed to have submitted a second bid for the midfielder, reportedly worth £77m.

Transfer reporter Dean Jones thinks it’d be a shock if the Merseyside club were to pull off a deal for the Uruguayan, although he hailed the Anfield giants as being without parallel when it comes to executing surprises in the market.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Liverpool are simply the best at surprising us in the transfer window so anything could happen. This would truly be a surprise if they could take Valverde away from Real Madrid. One of their most consistent, reliable options in that squad.”

READ MORE: Liverpool could’ve paid roughly 20% less for Szoboszlai were it not for RB Leipzig trick – Bild

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It could be debated just how seriously Liverpool are actually pursuing Valverde, given the massive amounts being quoted, and we’d be inclined to wait for a truly reliable source on the club’s transfer activity to build upon the reports from the Spanish outlet before taking it as gospel.

Speaking to Empire of the Kop recently, the trusted Neil Jones hinted that any further Reds signings this summer would likely be in the region of £30m-£50m, which is well below what some sources have claimed was offered for the 24-year-old.

Right now, it seems a highly unrealistic transfer pursuit, although it goes without saying that the Real Madrid star would be a titanic signing for LFC if they actually do pull it off.

Even in a team of Los Blancos’ glittering talents, Carlo Ancelotti has described him as ‘untouchable‘, a sure sign of how much his manager trusts him, something which is backed up by Valverde’s haul of 56 appearances for the club last season, in which he produced 12 goals (Transfermarkt).

Liverpool have been known to spring the odd surprise in the transfer market, such as the recent out-of-the-blue acquisition of Dominik Szoboszlai, but as Dean Jones has hinted, it’d almost defy belief if they’re somehow able to lure the Uruguay midfielder from the Bernabeu.

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Lavia OR Thuram next? Why Newcastle DIDN’T come in for Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s difficult signing, and much more!

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Real Madrid scouting for Liverpool midfielder ‘will not cease’ despite recent arrival – report https://www.empireofthekop.com/2023/07/03/real-madrid-scouting-liverpool-midfielder/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 10:22:23 +0000 https://www.empireofthekop.com/?p=237388 Real Madrid are growing quite fond of stealing our midfield transfer targets and even though we have one target through the door at Anfield, it seems that their interest in one player remains strong. As reported by Defensa Central (translated): ‘Real Madrid stood out of the bidding [for Dominik Szoboszlai] and will not compete with those from Anfield, […]

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Real Madrid are growing quite fond of stealing our midfield transfer targets and even though we have one target through the door at Anfield, it seems that their interest in one player remains strong.

As reported by Defensa Central (translated): ‘Real Madrid stood out of the bidding [for Dominik Szoboszlai] and will not compete with those from Anfield, but it is expected that the scouting for the 22-year-old striker will not cease’.

It’s not often that within hours of a new signing arriving at the club that you see rumours linking them with a move away but that seems to be the case with Dominik Szoboszlai.

READ MORE: (Video) Ex-Red says Liverpool player is better than Declan Rice; best in the country

The 22-year-old was on the radar of many top clubs in Europe but thankfully it was Liverpool who could secure the deal for the Hungarian at this moment in time.

It’s hard to know how much notice to take from the Spanish outlet but also easy to understand why interest in the former RB Leipzig man has increased, now that his Merseyside move has been completed.

After proving such stern competition on the pitch and in terms of taking players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham, many will hope that we don’t entertain any offers from the Santiago Bernabeu for any our players.

#Ep78 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?!

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