Liverpool 'want €200m superstar to replace Mo Salah', they could have signed him for just €3m in 2017

Liverpool are eyeing up a Real Madrid star to replace Mo Salah in January, according to reports in Spain.

Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad submitted a series of bids for Salah, 31, late in the summer transfer window, including a massive offer worth £150m.

Liverpool refused to sell their prize asset and have been rewarded with two goals and four assists from the Egyptian in five matches at the start of the new Premier League campaign.

Al Ittihad are expected to return with another offer for Salah in January and Liverpool could be tempted to cash in if the club is not in the race for the title at that point.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Liverpool are interested in signing Real Madrid winger Rodrygo as a replacement for Salah, should he depart in January.

It is claimed that Madrid are unlikely to allow the Brazilian to leave, however, unless an 'exceptional' offer arrives from Merseyside.

Rodrygo, 22, has scored 32 goals in 171 games for Real Madrid and is widely viewed as one of the best young talents in world football.

CIES Football Observatory estimate that his transfer value is €200m (£173m), making him the fourth most valuable player in the world behind club teammates Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, and Man City striker Erling Haaland.

Liverpool could have signed Rodrygo for just €3m (£2.6m) back in 2017, a year before Real Madrid bought him from Santos.

The Guardian claim former Brazil and Manchester City midfielder Elano persuaded the then Santos president, Modesto Roma Junior, to abandon plans to sell Rodrygo to Liverpool.

Elano was working as an assistant coach at Santos and a 16-year-old Rodrygo was yet to make his first-team debut for the Brazilian club.

Liverpool's bid eventually failed, allowing Real Madrid to sign the winger for €45m (£39m) the following year. And it will certainly take a lot more than that for Jurgen Klopp to finally get his man in the January transfer market.

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Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Rodrygo, Football, Transfers

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan