Rumour Mongering: Real Madrid Eye Liverpool Target

Bayer Leverkusen rising star Julian Brandt is a player in demand, at least if the tabloids are anything to go by. Klopp is a well-known admirer of the 20-year-old winger, with rumours of his interest in bringing the player to Anfield swirling around for months now.

But Liverpool are not the only club with an interest in Brandt. He’s said to have a slew of Premier League heavyweights interested along with Liverpool, including Manchester United and Arsenal. He’s also being wooed by the Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, though it is rumoured that the player would prefer to move outside of Germany.

Most recently, sights have turned to Spain, where Real Madrid are also said to have a keen interest in Brandt’s future. So much so, in fact, that there is talk of the German national being the long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo when the latter reaches the end of his career.

So, you know, no pressure there or anything.

It’s unsure whether Brandt will be making a move this summer, but it’s clear that he will have no shortage of interested clubs if he does.

This is one of many reasons why Liverpool need to take it into the top four and back in the Champion’s League next season. While Klopp is a draw for players, and while the transfer committee remains determined to unearth undervalued or undiscovered talent, Liverpool will continue to remain at a disadvantage in the hunt for in-demand names without the lure of European football.