Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is flying in Liverpool colours in an alternate universe.

The Brazil forward could have joined Jurgen Klopp’s first project early in its iteration in 2017 for a snip at £2.57m.

The ex-Santos man admitted in an interview with the Guardian (relayed on X by Fabrizio Romano) that he instead opted to remain in his homeland. The Anfield-based outfit lost out but it was very much Los Blancos’ gain.

Rodrygo reveals: “I almost joined Liverpool in 2017, the deal was done for €3m”.

“It collapsed because I said no”.

“I wanted to stay at Santos, make history, finish my studies and then leave… even though the offer from #LFC was very good”, told Guardian @thiagorabelo1. pic.twitter.com/kG0tp94YGr

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 8, 2024

Fast forward to 2024 and he’s now worth £69.4m (according to Football Transfers’ estimated transfer value) with a £1bn release clause included in his contract (Daily Mail).

FOLLOW Empire of the Kop on Instagram (@empireofthekop) HERE

READ MORE: Salah and Diaz could now have big say on Liverpool signing Crysencio Summerville

READ MORE: Next Liverpool manager: Fabrizio Romano drops huge afternoon update on Ruben Amorim

What could have been for Liverpool

We won’t lose too many nights’ sleep over it. For those who’ve somehow forgotten, our forward line once boasted the ludicrous talents of Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane alongside Mo Salah.

It was, categorically, the most feared forward line in Europe in the first Klopp era that could have yielded two additional Champions League titles.

The current set-up isn’t bad either, with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz having taken on the torch with aplomb.

Never mind about what could have been – we’re still lucky to have witnessed, and be witnessing, top attacking talent.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Could a surprise candidate now replace Klopp? The search after Xabi Alonso, and much more!

The post Footballer now worth £69m admits he could have signed £2.5m Liverpool deal appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have allegedly tabled a second bid worth £68.5m for Rodrygo’s services.

This comes courtesy of Nacional (via Sky Sports), with it now claimed the club has improved on its first offer of £51.4m.

It’s understood, however, that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez won’t entertain the forward’s exit unless bidding reaches £85.7m.

FOLLOW Empire of the Kop on Instagram (@empireofthekop) HERE

READ MORE: Next Liverpool manager: Ex-Red now has serious concerns about Xabi Alonso

READ MORE: Liverpool can now finalise Alonso deal on the table after FSG tick off their objectives – report

Is Rodrygo Mo Salah’s heir?

The Brazilian can ply his trade across the forward line, though he is primarily a right-sided winger.

With Mo Salah’s future far from certain amid ongoing reports of Saudi interest, it remains to be seen how our recruitment team will approach this conundrum.

It’s worth bearing in mind the Egyptian will likely have little interest in leaving truly competitive football – with all due respect to Saudi football – whilst still in his peak years.

In that sense, signing the 23-year-old as an understudy to the Champions League winner would make a certain degree of sense.

What do the stats say?

The Brazilian international has enjoyed a reasonably prolific season in Madrid. He’s registered 21 goal contributions in 41 games across all competitions in 2023/24.

Using Salah as a barometer of attacking proficiency, Rodrygo compares well for touches in the opponent’s box. He ranks in the 97th percentile compared to our No.11’s 98th percentile score, according to FBref.

Non-penalty xG and xAG are still a long way off our top-scorer’s levels.

That said, you’d expect there to be some serious potential to be realised at only 23 years of age.

Should Liverpool commit major money to Rodrygo?

It all very much depends, as ever, on what Liverpool’s budget looks like this summer.

There’s also Salah’s future to factor in ahead of his contract expiring in 2025.

Should the Egyptian look to take a big paycheque bump in the Middle East, we’d likely be left with the necessary cash.

If our record-breaking wide man stays, of course, we arguably have bigger priorities to meet.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

The post Liverpool table second bid: Testing Florentino Perez’s resolve for potential Mo Salah heir – report appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

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).

READ MORE: (Video) Ryan Gravenberch’s exquisite half-time skills at Anfield will have Liverpool fans purring

READ MORE: ‘I’m really happy…’ – Alexis Mac Allister loves having ‘fantastic’ Liverpool ace as a teammate

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.

VOTE for Empire of the Kop as Best Club Content Creator (Premier League) here: Football Content Awards
OR on X with Empire’s one-click X link with: I am voting in @The_FCAs for @empireofthekop in Best Club Content Creator (Premier League)

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!

The post Liverpool handed a boost with Real Madrid’s stance on Klopp’s preferred Salah successor – report appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Rodrygo has admitted that he and his Real Madrid teammates know that they’re in for a ‘difficult’ game against Liverpool at Anfield next week.

The La Liga giants travel to Merseyside for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in a repeat of last season’s final which the Spaniards won 1-0 in Paris with the occasion marred by the shocking treatment of supporters outside the Stade De France.

Real last visited L4 in the quarter-final of the 2020/21 edition of Europe’s premier competition and although they were held to a goalless draw, they progressed through to the next round after winning the first-leg in the Spanish capital 3-1.

“The game there is going to be very difficult, we already know this,” Rodrygo told Goal (as quoted by the Liverpool Echo).

“Playing against Liverpool is always difficult whether with or without fans, but at Anfield even more. We are ready.”

The Brazil international was involved in both of Real’s last two victories over us and will fancy his chances of making it a hat-trick next week.

The 22-year-old has also spoken about his preferred position and how he likes to operate in the No. 10 position.

READ MORE: Borussia Dortmund boss makes honest Jude Bellingham admission amid serious Liverpool interest

“In the 4-2-3-1, behind Karim, it’s the position I like the most and everyone knows this. I always talk to the coach,” he said.

“Of course, I can play in all positions, but that’s where I feel most comfortable when it comes to playing. I played a very good game against Elche there.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side currently find themselves second in La Liga and 11 points behind fierce rivals Barcelona.

They were recently crowned Club World Cup champions after beating Saudi outfit Al Hilal in the final and the Rodrygo is now confident that he and his teammates can challenge for the title during the second half of the campaign.

“It’s always possible, we have to believe until the end,” said the 22-year-old. “I think that, in my first season, we were also far behind Atletico and then we came back.

“It’s very difficult but we are going to try to go back and win all the remaining games. Let’s see what happens.”

Los Blancos have won the Champions League a record 14-times and therefore always fancy their chances in the competition.

We owe them one from last year and with the likes of Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Bobby Firmino returning to fitness in time for the clash next week, let’s hope we can put in a huge performance to ensure that we’re in a strong position heading into the return leg in Spain next month.

40% of Liverpool’s summer loans failed – what’s happened to the club’s loan system?

The post ‘We are ready’ – Real Madrid star sends defiant message ahead of ‘very difficult’ Champions League trip to Anfield appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool are said to be done in the transfer market but that doesn’t stop some news outlets from reporting suspected transfer targets.

As reported by Catalonian outfit El Nacional (translated): ‘Liverpool have been left without Sadio Mané and do not have a first-class striker signed. Jürgen Klopp considers that essential and one of the players he has in mind is Rodrygo, the Real Madrid winger. The German coach knows that the Brazilian is not entirely happy with Carlo Ancelotti, who despite his decisive goals continues to see him as a substitute, but not as an undisputed starter. For Klopp, on the other hand, Rodrygo would be a star and form an offensive trident along with Salah and Luis Diaz.

‘Rodrygo knows of Liverpool’s interest and, although he is generally happy at Madrid, is tempted to change his mind, as he sees how he will continue to be a substitute in the future. Florentino Pérez has already tried to close the signing of Mbappé, which would have left Rodrygo with a foot and a half out of the club, so it is not ruled out that the president is still looking for a plan B.

READ MORE: (Video) Virgil van Dijk on why Jordan Henderson is ‘an example for every footballer in the world’

‘Liverpool moved threads a few weeks ago. They first contacted Rodrygo’s entourage to convey Klopp’s interest to him, as well as putting a significant salary increase on the table. In addition, an informal offer of €60 million was sent to Real Madrid, which made Florentino Pérez think’.

It does look unlikely that we would be spending big on another forward this summer, especially given the recent arrivals of Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Luis Diaz.

With Mo Salah’s contract not being sorted though, there is a chance that we could be fluid in the transfer market and make a move if our No.11’s head is turned this summer.

For Rodrygo, he still has three years left on his current deal and so it may be worth waiting to see if the fee goes down in the future – if he is indeed keen on a move to Anfield at all.

EOTK Insider Opinion: Ben Davies’ wages and why he is the blueprint of how Liverpool don’t do transfer business

The post Liverpool make ‘informal offer of €60 million’ for 21-year-old Real Madrid star who ‘is tempted’ by ‘Klopp’s interest’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Elano has revealed the part he played in preventing Liverpool from signing then Santos star, Rodrygo, for a pittance in 2017.

The Merseysiders had prepped a £2.5m deal for the Brazilian, which was reportedly close to completion before the former Manchester City star’s intervention.

“I went to the board and said, ‘No, no, we can’t let him leave for this,'” the 40-year-old told BBC Sport.

“It was a 3m euro offer only and the talks were already at an advanced stage. It was pretty much a done deal. They had a verbal agreement but I insisted, ‘We can’t do this’.

“He was just 16 years old back then and, although the team had high hopes for him, it was not clear yet when he would be playing for the senior side. So I went to Rodrygo and told him, ‘We will promote you soon. You have my word.’

“A little while after, I ended up taking charge as a caretaker manager and so, much sooner than expected, I could do what I had promised him. I brought him to train with us and gave him his first minutes as a professional footballer.”

With Mo Salah joining the Reds in the summer of the same year, however, it’s fair to say that the club’s recruitment team struck gold on the right flank of the now prestigious front-three.

The 21-year-old later joined Real Madrid, with Los Blancos stumping up £38m for the attacker’s signature.

READ MORE: ‘Liverpool are certainly interested…’ – Fabrizio Romano weighs in on chances of Bellingham transfer exit this summer

To think that we could have secured a quality operator on the right wing and now not be worrying over the future of the position will most certainly invite some grumbles from fans.

That being said, if anyone can be trusted to deliver the next best thing in Salah’s spot once the Egyptian calls time on his Anfield career – an eventuality we hope is far away in the distance – it has to be our world-class recruitment team.

The club could yet secure an option for the future in the upcoming summer window, dependent on how we perceive Fabio Carvalho’s ability to operate across the forward line, with the midfield appearing to be a priority for the moment.

#Ep51 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Can Steven Gerrard do Liverpool a big favour? Do we need an Origi replacement… & more!

The post Ex-Man City star Elano blocked Liverpool from bargain £2.5m deal for now £38m Real Madrid star in 2017 appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Rodrygo would seem to have added fuel to the fire when it comes to reports around Liverpool’s supposed interest in the Real Madrid winger.

The Brazilian shared a picture on Twitter with the caption: “It’s time to learn… English class!”

It's time to learn… English class! pic.twitter.com/6R0oQ05CKG

— Rodrygo Goes (@RodrygoGoes) December 15, 2021

The tweet in question courted a great deal of interest from the social media platform’s football fans, with several Twitter users suggesting that the attacker was hinting at a potential move to the Premier League.

READ MORE: Everton increasingly losing the plot as Paul Joyce shares latest update in Goodison Park circus

With the 20-year-old only featuring sporadically for the Spanish top-flight outfit this term, it’s possible that a switch to another club and the possibility of more minutes elsewhere could prove irresistible for the former Santos prodigy.

Given the quality at our disposal, of course, with Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino, presenting a more than formidable challenge to any forward line hopeful determined to break into Liverpool’s front-three, it’s difficult to see Rodrygo ending up plying his trade in the famous Red.

That’s not to rule out a switch to the Premier League, however, with there likely to be a great deal of interest arising from English clubs, provided that the footballer isn’t set to agree new terms with his current employers as has been claimed by Jorge Nicola.

You can catch some of the Twitter reaction below:

https://twitter.com/Rizwaan3rd/status/1471188107806457856

@PierrickLFC Liverpool

— Lukita (@VeggieStyle73) December 15, 2021

Don’t tell me your signing for Liverpool?

— alhaji (@skiddo262) December 15, 2021

Welcome to Liverpool dude

— Mnumzana (@EddyGolide) December 15, 2021

Preparing for Liverpool

— Mwandamena (@mwalusi_m) December 15, 2021

Fouls, indirect free-kicks and match-fixing: Liverpool vs. Inter Milan 1965

The post Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo’s latest tweet fuels speculation around Liverpool’s reported interest appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have been ruled out of the possibility of signing Real Madrid wide man Rodrygo despite the Reds having allegedly made contact with the Spanish giants to issue an enquiry.

This comes from reporter Jorge Nicola (via Sport Witness), with it being claimed that the La Liga outfit is in the process of arranging fresh terms for the young Brazilian who once drew comparisons to now PSG man, Neymar.

The Merseysiders were linked with a broad range of forwards in the summer window, a position many had expected the club to strengthen in light of the 2023 expiration date of the contracts held by Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane.

READ MORE: Finance guru names three outfits that could afford to sign Liverpool’s Mo Salah

With there being plans to extend both our Senegalese and Egyptian wingers’ terms, however, that would still leave a significant potential gap to fill should our No.9 part ways before on the date in question.

Having strengthened the backline, an area of serious concern last term, we’d expect the focus to move further up the pitch to the middle of the park and the forward line.

A target of a similar age group to Rodrygo will likely be targetted as we look to ensure the future of the first-XI, though history suggests moving for a fellow heavyweight’s promising talent is unlikely.

#Ep26 of The Red Nets Podcast (Special Edition): Inter Milan reaction, who’s the biggest loser from the redraw?… and more! 

The post Real Madrid in talks to extend contract of Liverpool-linked attacker once seen as Neymar’s heir – Jorge Nicola appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

There’s an interesting claim from agent Nick Arcuri doing the rounds today regarding Liverpool’s former interest in hotshot Rodrygo.

The Brazilian sensation now plays at Real Madrid, but was formerly targeted by the Reds when he was a young teenager at Santos.

Until now though, we didn’t realise how close we actually were to securing the attacker, rated by many as the Next Neymar. 

According to Arcuri, Klopp actually travelled to Brazil to watch Rodrygo (although we have doubts surrounding this claim) and that he had a meeting with Michael Edwards in our London office regarding a bid that Santos rejected.

“When Rodrygo went to make his first professional contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director called me,” he told a recent YouTube Q&A from a journalist.

“Saying that Klopp already knew the player, had seen the material, had already come to see Rodrygo personally. He had entered YouTube, searched ‘talents from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil, liked him.”

“They contacted me, the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo. I went to England, sat in London, Liverpool have an office in London. I brought the proposal to Modesto, then president of Santos. Modesto didn’t accept. It was Rodrygo’s sale so when he turned 18 he’d go to Liverpool. It turned out that Santos didn’t want to sell Rodrygo and made the first professional contract. So it was Rodrygo’s first official proposal, he was 16 and it was Liverpool.”

Rodrygo had scored seven goals this season before it was curtailed, but shot to worldwide prominence when he scored a hat-trick v Galatasaray in the Champions League Group Stages.

He is a phenomenal dribbler and has typical Brazilian flair and panache, although now he’s at Real Madrid, we can’t see him arriving at Anfield any time soon.

The post Klopp went to see Rodrygo in Brazil; wanted attacker as first LFC signing – claims agent appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

One of the biggest stories of midweek in the Champions League was Rodrygo – the 18-year-old who became the second youngest to score a hat-trick in the competition behind Raul.

The Brazilian prodigy notched three against Galatasaray and put in a scintillating performance which truly announced his talent to the world.

Rodrygo arrived at Real Madrid this summer from Santos, but Los Blancos actually secured his signature a year ago in 2018 for a hefty €45m.

It turns out that Liverpool were also keen on Rodrygo and actually submitted an offer for the teenager while he was at Santos – but it wasn’t high enough to convince his boyhood club to sell.

Former Santos manager Elano Blumer, who you’ll remember from his stint as a flamboyant playmaker with Manchester City, explained as much.

“There was strong interest from Liverpool for the kid when he was in the youth teams and they wanted him, but the offer was low,” he told ESPN, cited in Marca.

“Then the offer arrived from Real Madrid.

“I had a chat with the club and I told them the kid was worth gambling on and that I would like to work with him.”

Elano expanded on Rodrygo’s world-class potential:

“He already had this ability at a young age,” he said.

“There are very few players that are like that when they’re so young. He’s already mature and has a personality to his game.

“He’s technically gifted and he’s got great control with his movements. Therefore, he took no time settling into the Santos first team.”

It’s a shame we couldn’t have secured Rodrygo at the time, as he’d be the perfect player to support our front-three.

He can play anywhere along the frontline and is at the age where he could be slowly integrated in the starting XI.

Sadly, we’ll have to watch his progression from afar!

Hopefully the club is working tirelessly to secure the next big thing, behind the scenes, though.

Next summer could be a big one in the transfer market after we didn’t sign any players this summer just gone.

The post Liverpool almost signed Rodrygo, but offer was below €45m Real Madrid spent appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool were closing in on the ‘The New Neymar’ last summer, but decided against it due to outrageous demands from Rodrygo’s representatives.

The 17-year-old is expected to sign for Real Madrid, after Los Blancos tabled a mammoth €45m offer for the starlet, having already secured Vinicius Junior for a similar fee earlier this calendar year.

SEE MORE:
Journalist: Liverpool ‘in negotiations with family’ of prodigious midfielder

Marcus Alves of FourFourTwo has tweeted the news to his followers:

https://twitter.com/alves_marcus/status/1004636739535867904?s=19

Rodrygo has been tearing it up for Santos recently, scoring nine goals in 2018 alone, including a recent hat-trick.

He’s been compared to Neymar as a result, with the PSG superstar graduating from the same club around five years ago.

Rodrygo looks destined for greatness, but if he’s going to upset the apple-cart, he’s not the kind of influence Jurgen Klopp wants in the squad.

We’re surprised Rodrygo wants a Bernabeu switch though, judging by the failure of Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian wonderkid whose failed to make the grade since his 2015 transfer.

The post Liverpool turn down Brazilian because of agents’ attitude appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool are one of the clubs chasing Santos prodigy Rodrygo, Catalan outlet SPORT claim.

Their report, translated by Sport Witness, suggests Barcelona will have to move quickly to steal the wonderkid, after interest from Liverpool, PSG and Manchester United was ‘verified’.

The 17-year-old forward is naturally being likened to Neymar, who also came through the Santos academy and went onto European greatness.

SEE MORE:
Mourinho is taking credit for Salah’s season; claims he never wanted to sell him

Rodrygo has five goals in 18 appearances this term, and became the youngest ever goalscorer in the Copa Libertadores in March.

Like the most exciting Brazilians, Rodrygo is quick, skilful and loves dribbling past defenders. He’s two-footed and clearly extremely talented.

He has a €50m release clause, which is likely what any club would have to pay to secure him at this stage, with his value only set to rise.

We’d be surprised if Liverpool actually wanted to spend this kind of fee on a youngster Jurgen Klopp has never met or watched directly, in truth.

This kind of money will be reserved for players who’ll become immediate first-team options.

After all, that’s more than we paid for Mo Salah or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain!

You can check out his best bits below:

The post Liverpool have ‘verified’ interest in €50m 17-year-old Brazilian dubbed ‘New Neymar’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

We suspect that if we are to search for young and exciting prospects then South America could be an ideal place to look, given the track record of players to come from there.

Liverpool have seemingly turned their attention to that part of the world and one of Brazil’s up and coming stars Rodrygo, according to Globo Esporte.

The striker has been tipped as the star of the same Santos youth setup that produced Barcelona forward Neymar.

Interest in him appears to have triggered the Brazilian club to step up efforts to offer the player his first professional contract with his family reportedly asking for the inclusion of a goals bonus and financial support for “housing, courses and marketing actions.”

SEE MORE:
Didi Hamann- what Klopp must learn after ‘disastrous’ eight weeks

At the age of 11, Rodrygo became the youngest player to sign a deal with Nike, bettering that of Neymar who signed with the sports company when he was 13.

Talk of a move to England has taken the youngster by surprise but there is no rush at all for a player tipped for a bright future.

The post Liverpool make approach for 17-year-old Brazilian record breaker appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.