Liverpool identify 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder as Coutinho’s replacement

According to Spanish news outlet Don Balon, Liverpool are interested in bringing Dani Ceballos to Anfield at the end of the season.

The midfielder has struggled for game time at Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane, after leaving Real Betis last summer. He has made just 19 appearances this campaign and is yet to complete a full game in the La Liga.

As per Don Balon, Real chief Florentino Perez is willing to allow the 21-year-old to leave the club this summer as he aims to bring in a new galaxy of superstars.

Ceballos enjoyed an impressive campaign with Real Betis last season and was awarded the Golden Player award in last year’s Under-21 European Championship, which Spain lost to Germany.

The report claims that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed an interest in the Spaniard and sees him as the ideal replacement for Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho moved to Barcelona after the Catalan club coughed up £142m to secure his services from Liverpool in the January transfer window. The report adds that Klopp is keen on signing a replacement for the departed Brazilian and wants to bring Ceballos to Anfield in summer.

The Don Balon claims that Perez will have no problems in allowing Ceballos to leave in the summer but the Real president is ready to play hardball and wants a solid slice of Coutinho’s funds, the report

The Don Balon reports that Ceballos has been asking for a way out of the club for a long time, given that he feels undervalued by Zidane.