Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, who will be allowed to leave at the end of the season.
According to a report from Italian outlet FCInterNews, Liverpool are considering a surprise move for Real Madrid midfield outcast Dani Ceballos in the summer transfer window.
Ceballos has been with Real Madrid since 2017 when he signed from fellow La Liga outfit Real Betis. One of the most promising midfield prospects in the country at the time of his arrival, the 25-year-old struggled to establish himself as a regular at the Santiago Bernabeu in his first two seasons.
Having struggled for game-time, Ceballos left Real Madrid to join Arsenal on a season-long loan deal in 2019. The Spaniard had a decent spell at the Emirates, which was enough for the Gunners to re-sign him on a temporary deal for the 2020/21 campaign as well. He featured 77 times for Arsenal in his two years at the club, scoring two goals and setting up five more.
Back at Real Madrid, Ceballos was linked with an exit in the summer of last year, but an injury prevented a transfer. Having returned to action recently, the Spanish ace has featured 11 times for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. But he is unlikely to stay at the Bernabeu beyond the ongoing campaign, with Real Madrid ready to cash in on him.
Ceballos has been attracting plenty of interest from within Spain and outside. Former club Real Betis have shown a keenness to re-sign the 25-year-old, while fellow La Liga clubs like Sevilla and Valencia are also interested. Reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan are also keeping tabs on the Real Madrid ace. But they will all have to face competition from Liverpool, according to FCInterNews.
Liverpool are in the market for reinforcements in midfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to refresh his options. James Milner is entering the final phase of his career. Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are also in their thirties and have had fitness issues of late. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not getting meaningful game-time, he might consider a move away as well.
It would force Liverpool to consider signing a new midfielder in the summer. Several names such as Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans and Yves Bissouma of Brighton & Hove Albion have already been linked. Now Ceballos, too, has seemingly emerged as a prospective target, with Liverpool understood to be monitoring his situation.
While the 25-year-old has experience in the Premier League and fared decently at Arsenal, it is unlikely that Liverpool would be pursuing the Spaniard and could look at other, more suitable players in the market.
