Arsenal
Arsenal & Chelsea Favourites But Liverpool Also Make Contact Over £51m Attacker
Arsenal and Chelsea are in pole position to sign a £51m attacker but Liverpool have also registered their interest in signing the player.
The transfer window is now drawing to a close so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Liverpool join the chase for James Rodriguez…
Liverpool have joined Arsenal and Chelsea in registering their interest in signing James Rodriguez this summer with Real Madrid ready to sell if a £51m bid is put on the table, according to reports in Spain via the Mirror.
Rodriguez moved to Madrid from AS Monaco in a £56m deal back in 2014 after earning a move to the Spanish giants following some sensational displays for Colombia at the World Cup finals that summer.
However, after an encouraging start to life at the Bernabeu the 25-year-old has fallen out-of-favour under Zinedine Zidane and made just 17 league starts last season while he was also left on the bench for key Champions League matches including the final against Atletico Madrid.
His first team chances look bleak already this term having started on the bench in both of Madrid’s games so far this season and Rodriguez could see himself fall even further down the pecking order following the rise of youngster Marco Asensio.
It’s led to speculation that the Colombian international could be set for a move this summer and the Mirror are citing reports coming from Mundo Deportivo that claim Arsenal and Chelsea are in pole position to secure a deal.
The Spanish outlet says that with any proposed deal with Chelsea complicated by Madrid’s interest in Eden Hazard, Arsenal are considered as the slight favourites as Arsene Wenger is prepared to pay close to the £51m fee Madrid are demanding.
The Gunners boss has come under heavy criticism from the clubs fans for his lack of activity in the market and while many feel the north Londoners need a proven striker, a marquee signing like Rodriguez would certainly show a statement of intent from Arsenal.
However, they could yet face more competition as Mundo Deportivo claim that Liverpool have now also registered an interest in signing Rodriguez but Madrid are concerned that the Merseysiders won’t be able to meet their £51m asking price.
Jurgen Klopp has been extremely active in the market bringing in seven new players so far with Sadio Mane the biggest signing following his £34m move from Southampton back in June.
With the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana also vying for a start in the attacking midfield positions it comes as something of a surprise that Klopp is being linked with a big money move for Rodriguez.
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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I think the former Monaco attacker would be an excellent addition for any of the Premier League clubs being linked and I could see him being a real hit if he was given a more prominent role at a new club.
