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Real Madrid tipped to sign Liverpool cult hero just days after sealing Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer

Real Madrid tipped to sign Liverpool cult hero just days after sealing Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer

The Sun06-06-2025
LIVERPOOL cult hero Firmino has been linked with a sensational move to Real Madrid, reports claim.
Real are looking for an experienced goalscorer to support Kylian Mbappe up top, after finishing second behind LaLiga champions Barcelona this season.
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It comes just days after Madrid swooped Liverpool boyhood star Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ended his 20-year career at Anfield for sunny Spain.
And according to Spanish outlet AS Sport, Madrid are in the hunt for a new Joselu-like figure to come to the Bernabeu.
The former Stoke and Newcastle forward may have flopped in the Premier League, but he's fondly remembered in the Spanish capital.
Joselu scored crucial goals en route to Real's 2024 Champions League victory, most notably his two late notches in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich.
Joselu, who came through the ranks at Real as a youngster, scored 18 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions as he played a vital support role after rejoining for a year aged 33.
And having been without such a prolific role player this year after Joselu joined Saudi side Al-Gharafa SC, Firmino has reportedly dropped onto Madrid's radar.
The Brazilian, 33, who once featured in one of most lethal Premier League front-threes with Mo Salah and Sado Maino, now plays in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.
Firmino was linked with a shock move to Madrid before the end of Liverpool contract in 2023.
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After initially struggling to find his feet, Firmino has managed 21 goals in 65 appearances, and he captained Al-Ahli to the AFC Champions League Elite title this season.
Firmino is also seen as someone who could play a vital bench role for new manager Xabi Alonso, who also starred for both Liverpool and Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold breaks down in tears and kisses badge as he gets emotional send-off from Liverpool fans
A move would allow youngster Gonzalo Garcia, 21, another year to develop after scoring 25 goals for Madrid's academy this season.
If does complete the switch, then Firmino would be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Alexander-Arnold.
The pair who won it all at Liverpool during Jurgen Klopp 's golden years, including the club's first-ever Premier League trophy and the 2019 Champions League title.
While Firmino was given a hero's send-off when he was released in 2023, the England right-back faced heavy criticism from Liverpool fans, who were initially fuming about his free agent status.
But Madrid have since paid £10million to release Alexander-Arnold a month early from this contract that was due to end on June 30.
The Spanish giants were hell-bent on having the 26-year-old for the Club World Cup, starting on June 14 in the US.
Firmino would also have fellow Brazilians Vinicius Jr and Eder Militao as team-mates.
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It was towards the end of June when it became clear that Tottenham were considering a move for Eberechi Eze, one to install him as the centrepiece of their new project under Thomas Frank. Or, at least, when it became public knowledge. And it was the prompt for two things to happen. Firstly, it would be reported a few days later that Arsenal were also on the case. The club's new sporting director, Andrea Berta, had put the feelers out for the Crystal Palace forward. Call it a declaration of interest, albeit Berta was having a lot of conversations about a lot of potential targets at the time. His idea was to have plenty of options on the boil before deciding which to prioritise. Then, there was a subtle change to the mood music at Spurs, a kind of step back into a holding pattern. Agent talk, was the word inside the club. Eze was more likely to stay at Palace. It would be wrong to get too far ahead of anything on this one. 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It was as if they were shadow boxing with Arsenal, their every move over Eze likely to come right back at them. Arsenal were a devil on their shoulder; watching, waiting. Spurs would pivot to Morgan Gibbs-White in July only to run into the immovable object that is Evangelos Marinakis. No deal, the Nottingham Forest owner said. There would be a new one for Gibbs-White at Forest and, sadly for Spurs, egg on their face after they believed they would be able to exploit a £60m release clause in his old contract. The Gibbs-White episode has been a climate-shaper in Spurs's summer and then there was the moment when James Maddison ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season game against Newcastle on 3 August; a shattering blow for him and Spurs. Dejan Kulusevski, the club's other key central attacking midfielder, had knee surgery in May and is out until around the turn of the year, so the need to act in the market was obvious and urgent. Why not move straight away for Eze; give him and Palace a decision to make by meeting the £68m release clause in his deal, which was in place until 15 August? Spurs's hesitation was to do with the fact they considered the number to be too high for a 27-year-old with 12 England caps and no experience of European football at club level. It is not the only detail in terms of optics that has hurt them as Arsenal prepare to pay pretty much that amount to take Eze to the Emirates, with Spurs themselves having ended up ready to do likewise. There has been the idea that Spurs had a clear run at Eze because Arsenal, after spending around £200m on six other signings, would need to raise money via sales before they could make a bid. Well, they have sold nobody and still pushed the button. Unless Arsenal have a sale or two lined up, could it be that they have more financial headroom than they have let on? It is easy to pick over the curiosities. 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But when their supporters look around, they see that Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have spent £200m or significantly upwards on signings. Manchester City, meanwhile, have invested £150m. The mood at Tottenham is back to being edgy. Arsenal have made a statement of intent.

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