Rumour Mongering: Liverpool to Return for Mahmoud Dahoud This Summer

Liverpool had been set to wait until next summer to try to sign Borussia Monchengladbach’s 20-year-old rising star midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, but according to reports in Germany, the revelation of a bargain-basement release clause could be set to radically change the situation and see Liverpool return for him this summer.

According to Bild, Dahoud’s current contract, which runs through 2018, has a €10M release clause tied to kick in next summer. The scaling release clause, or release clauses that only kick in at certain stages, are not entirely uncommon in German football. And, if true, it could be quite the incentive for Monchegladbach to sell now.

For their part, the club have been desperate to sign Dahoud to a new deal this summer. The player, despite that he is on his first professional contract with correspondingly low wages, has resisted. The assumption was that it was in order to make sure he could push through a move next summer, but it could be more than that.

“Mo has played a great season,” was Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl’s only comment when confronted with news of next summer’s £10M release clause by Bild today. “He feels comfortable here and will take the next step with us. Our main desire is for him to renew his contract.”

In addition to Liverpool interest, Juventus are reportedly tracking the player, and Bild think news of Dahoud’s release clause is likely to bring Liverpool back to the table after Monchengladbach earlier turned down an offer of €30M. Dahoud’s agent, though, is trying to tamp down the rumours—at least publicly.

“It is certain Mahmoud will stay with Gladbach for now,” agent Reza Fazeli told the Guardian today. “There has been a lot of interest in him, not just from Liverpool. But we have an agreement with Gladbach and everything has been postponed for next season. We will have to wait and see what happens.”