Real Madrid want to use Florian Wirtz in Rodrygo deal
Rodrygo, 24, is being lined up for a sale by Real Madrid during this transfer window. The two-time Champions League winner is under contract until 2029 - but is set to be offloaded by new coach Xabi Alonso.
Tottenham appear to be now in the lead for the Brazil international - with Liverpool's interest said to be cooling. With Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha as left-wing options - not to mention Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike - Liverpool are well stocked in the position.
While Rodrygo is a great player in his own right the deal just wouldn't make sense on a financial level for the Reds.
Rodrygo's exorbitant costs
For one, there's the wages. The latest reports indicate that Rodrygo would command around €400k per week - parity with Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah.
And then there's the €100m transfer fee - which Liverpool may have inadvertently help set. That's according to a new report in Defensa Central, which claims Real Madrid are USING Wirtz's fee to set the price for Rodrygo.
© IMAGO - Rodrygo Liverpool
Madrid use Wirtz valuation to set Rodrygo price
'If they paid 140 million for him… Rodrygo can't cost less than 100,' Defensa Central quotes a Real Madrid source as saying. Liverpool have acquired a player on the up - coveted by all the biggest teams in Europe including Madrid and Manchester City.
Rodrygo on the other hand would cost MORE in wages and Madrid clearly feel he is already on the wane.
Wirtz is far more of a sure thing than Rodrygo at this stage of their respective careers. Try as they like, Madrid are simply not going to convince Liverpool to pay €100m for a cast-off.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Johnson Reflects on Last Season and Eyes Bigger Role for Tottenham
Brennan Johnson Reflects and Readies for a New Era Under Thomas Frank From Bilbao to Barbados and Back Again For Brennan Johnson, the journey from scoring the winner in the Europa League final to a summer stroll through the markets of Oistins in Barbados has offered both celebration and reflection. Now, as Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a new chapter under Thomas Frank, Johnson finds himself at the heart of it. Speaking to The Athletic, Johnson admitted the significance of last season. 'It's an amazing memory,' he said of lifting the trophy on his 24th birthday. The goal in Bilbao, which secured European silverware and cemented his name in club folklore, may have come with a fortunate bounce off Luke Shaw, but Johnson is adamant: he got the final touch. Yet, his story is not one of triumph alone. 'Last season was like a rollercoaster,' Johnson explained. 'There were so many different emotions. It taught me so much about football. Not just on the pitch but off it… It was an important season for my development.' Photo: IMAGO Growth, Goals and the Kudus Challenge Johnson's first year at Spurs was a mix of highs and quiet spells. Though he finished as top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, there were matches where he drifted to the periphery. He is self-aware, however, and knows where the improvements lie. 'On the ball, I want to be better in one-v-one dribbling situations,' he admitted. 'Directness. More of a forward-thinking mentality… trying to get an overall better game.' That pursuit of growth now takes place within a refreshed system. Under Frank, Spurs have operated in a 4-2-3-1 throughout pre-season, with Johnson featuring on both flanks. His rivalry with new £50million signing Mohammed Kudus is likely to shape much of the upcoming campaign. 'I've been really impressed with him,' Johnson said of Kudus, who was one of the Premier League's standout dribblers last season. The Ghanaian adds Champions League experience and is another explosive threat in Spurs' forward line. But Johnson appears unfazed, valuing the depth and competition. 'It is what we need… We want to be in the Champions League every year.' Photo IMAGO Bonds with Son and Lessons from Frank Johnson's relationship with Son Heung-min, now departed, was central to his first season. From shared celebrations to donning boots designed by the South Korean forward, the connection extended beyond the pitch. 'I love Sonny,' Johnson said. 'He is a great guy… His career speaks for itself.' Frank's arrival has introduced a new culture, one Johnson clearly admires. 'Lots of people could respect how Brentford played,' he said. 'It shows what kind of development he can do.' The coaching group, including Justin Cochrane and new IDP coach Cameron Campbell, are also drawing praise. 'His drills are realistic to games,' Johnson said of Cochrane, noting how movement, finishing and instinct are now at the centre of his work. Photo: IMAGO Gibbs-White Saga and the Road Ahead One potential reunion that never materialised was with Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs' approach sparked controversy and Forest's response included a Premier League complaint. 'I haven't (spoken to him),' Johnson said diplomatically. 'Morgan is a great guy… I wish him all the best.' That moment, and others, reflect how much Johnson has matured. His own journey, from Forest exit to European glory, from social media abuse to fan favourite, continues to evolve. And under Frank, there is a sense he's ready to go again. Our View – EPL Index Analysis Brennan Johnson remains one of the more intriguing players in the squad. He is not flashy in the traditional sense, nor always dominant over 90 minutes, but his numbers speak for themselves. He finishes well, works hard, and always seems to pop up at big moments. There's an honesty to Johnson that supporters appreciate. Hearing him reflect on the ups and downs of last season and still frame it as a vital part of his development shows a maturity that bodes well for what's next. The arrival of Mohammed Kudus will add competition, but not necessarily displacement. If anything, the variety in attacking options gives Thomas Frank more freedom to rotate without loss of quality. What's also clear is that Johnson is no longer just a winger. He can float across the front line and now seems to be embracing more responsibility. His ability to score with one touch, link up play and press relentlessly suits Frank's style perfectly. The next step will be improving his one-v-one dribbling and becoming more involved in games from start to finish. If he gets that right, Johnson won't just be part of Spurs' next era, he'll be one of its leading voices.
New York Times
3 minutes ago
- New York Times
Trent Williams navigates going out on top, while guiding a young 49ers tackle behind him
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Trent Williams, the best left tackle in the NFL, turned 37 last month and has talked this training camp about trying to gauge where the cliff is. He doesn't see it — the potential fall-off and end of his career — but most players in the NFL never do, as the cliff not only moves but sometimes teams just flat chuck you over it without warning. Advertisement Williams is in great shape, and he goes against former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa every day at 49ers practice, which gives him a good measuring stick. 'He can play as long as he wants — there is no drop-off,' offensive line coach Chris Foerster said Sunday. 'And that's something I haven't seen with a guy who is 37 in all my years of coaching.' Williams is also busy pulling teammates like backup tackle Spencer Burford up the mountain, which helps keep the veteran young at heart and in mind. Burford was drafted out of Texas-San Antonio by the 49ers in the fourth round in 2022 and mentioned right after how excited he was to play with Williams. Williams reached out his hand the first time he met his fellow native Texan. 'Obviously, we clicked,' Williams said Friday. 'He's like a little brother to me now. I love him to death.' (The two actually share a birthday on July 19, which is great for Burford, as Williams owns his own jet and likes to spoil himself. 'He goes big,' Burford said, smiling, 'and I get to hang out in the background sometimes too.') Burford said that Williams 'guides me in the right direction, on and off the field,' but working out with the veteran in the offseason did take some getting used to. 'It's like working out with a coach,' Burford said. 'A lot of guys, when they approach you to work out, it's just to get it done, it's something that they have to do. But with Trent, he loves it — it's a lot more details, a lot more focus and a lot more attention. Everything you do is intentional — whether it's 16 steps this way, 16 steps that way, how you eat, how you sleep.' The two have been working out together in Houston in the offseason, and this summer, both Williams and Foerster think something really clicked. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Burford has returned to tackle — where he played in college — after starting 29 games at guard his first two seasons with the 49ers. Advertisement Williams holds a camp for young offensive linemen at his gym in Houston, and Burford showed up weeks earlier than usual. 'He was just there working out with my trainer and stuff, just from the jump,' Williams said. 'As soon as the offseason kicked off, he was in there grinding.' And it's paid off at training camp so far. 'You can see a noticeable change in his body — he put on more muscle and you can tell he worked on his explosiveness,' Williams said. 'He worked his butt off and you can just tell, he's got a step.' Burford said, 'when a future Hall of Famer shows you the road, it's hard not to follow.' Foerster has coached Williams for four years after he was drafted in Washington and then the last three in San Francisco, and has really enjoyed watching the veteran help guide Burford. 'I think it's been great,' Foerster said. 'Trent's good with all the guys. He likes coaching and he likes mentoring, and it's a cool dynamic to watch with Spence. As much as I can coach a player, to have Trent come behind — or before, they're gonna listen. Sometimes it's exactly what I'd say. Sometimes it's a little bit different, but it does help.' As for Burford, Foerster said he's 'weathered the storm well' after some early-career struggles, 'and he's come out the other end a lot more mature.' Burford said that he had to learn that you can't copy everything that Williams does. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound 11-time Pro Bowler has uncanny strength and agility and has some violent run-blocking techniques that are also unique. 'There's things that he can do that people can't replicate,' Burford said. Williams smiled when he heard that. 'I beg to differ,' he said. 'I mean, I think he possesses the athleticism in his body. He has the foot movement. He has a great strike. He moved to tackle this camp and you can see it, man. He's playing in space and everyday he's taking a stride.' Advertisement Now that Burford has moved over from guard, he can watch what Williams does in drills and try to immediately duplicate it. Williams, meanwhile, has discovered that he has a passion for coaching. 'I always felt like offensive line was kind of an underserved position,' he said. 'There are 32 teams in the NFL and I think there are probably only four or five great O-line coaches. I always felt like this position was kind of slower evolving than all the rest … so that became my thing, giving back to the game I love by working with players.' It's that added element to his playing career that may help Williams keep putting the pads on until he is 40. Because it's the offseason workouts and meetings that get to most players in their mid- to late thirties. 'How many more meetings can you sit in after 15 years of hearing the same play put in, and most of that is from my voice,' Foerster said. 'It's mind-numbing sometimes. Now, when it gets to the season, the players start competing every week. That's not the problem … 'As Trent said to me one day, 'You know, when I'm out here on this field, I play forever.' It's all the other things that lead to getting out on that field, which eventually chase guys out.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Associated Press
3 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Chelsea striker Marc Guiu joins promoted Sunderland on loan
SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — Newly promoted Sunderland signed 19-year-old striker Marc Guiu on a season-long loan from Chelsea on Wednesday ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Guiu made 16 appearances for Enzo Maresca's team last season and scored six goals — all in the UEFA Conference League campaign. Chelsea won the third-tier competition. Guiu became the second-youngest player (18 years, 350 days old) to score a hat trick for Chelsea. That feat came in a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers. The Spaniard also played twice in Chelsea's run to the Club World Cup title. 'I see myself as a powerful striker, who can make a difference on and off the ball, and I pride myself on being a natural goalscorer,' he said in Sunderland's announcement. Guiu rose through Barcelona's youth academy and made seven appearances for the Catalan club before joining Chelsea in 2024. Sunderland hosts West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Aug. 16 in its season opener. ___ AP soccer:
