Liverpool have turned their attention to bolstering their defence with interest in former Real Madrid starlet, Jacobo Ramon. The promising 21-year-old currently plies his trade at Como, having departed the Spanish giants last summer. Interestingly, Real Madrid hold a buy-back clause, potentially complicating any move from the Reds or other interested Premier League outfits.
The Merseyside club are having a turbulent campaign, having slipped to fourth place in the league – trailing third-placed Aston Villa by eight points, a stark contrast to their dominant title-winning performance last season. Liverpool’s defensive frailties have been highlighted by the 28 goals they’ve conceded, signalling a need for reinforcements at the back.
Ibrahima Konaté has struggled to find consistency, and the recent knee injury to Conor Bradley, sidelining him for the remainder of the season, has further exacerbated Liverpool’s defensive concerns.
As a result, Liverpool find themselves in the market for defensive options. Caught Offside reports that Ramon is firmly on their radar, with scouts from Anfield joining those from Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Brighton, and Crystal Palace in monitoring the young centre-back’s progress.
Since his move to Italy, Ramon has shone at Como and established himself as a reliable performer. However, any purchasing club will have to negotiate a hefty transfer fee due to Ramon’s contract running until 2030, along with the consideration that Real Madrid would receive 50% of any sale fee. Moreover, Real possess the advantage of re-signing Ramon for a mere €8 million (£6.9 million) due to their existing buy-back clause.
Thus, should the Spanish giants envisage a role for Ramon in their squad, they could outmaneuver any Premier League suitors by executing the buy-back clause, providing them with a strategic edge.
Liverpool and fellow English clubs will need to weigh their offers carefully, as substantial bids would be required to tempt Como into a sale, especially with Real’s keen interest potentially looming large.
Moreover, Liverpool have seen additional interest from Newcastle and Brighton, making the battle for Ramon’s signature all the more competitive.
Stay tuned for more on Liverpool’s pursuit of new talents as they seek to rectify their current defensive dilemmas and reinstate their stature in the Premier League hierarchy.