Liverpool have suffered a big blow in their pursuit of Real Madrid star Rodrygo

According to Spanish outlet SPORT (h/t Fichajes), Real Madrid have rejected a British record transfer fee from Liverpool for star Brazilian forward Rodrygo.

The Reds are looking for reinforcements in defence and midfield after deciding to release Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of June. A new forward could also be on the club’s agenda as they are bracing themselves for another substantial offer for star forward Mohamed Salah after the Merseyside club rejected an eye-watering £150m offer for the Egypt international last summer.

Liverpool were hellbent in their stance that Mohamed Salah wasn’t for sale at any cost 12 months ago but with the player set to enter the final year of his contract at Anfield, it remains to be seen if their position on the player has changed or not.

Perhaps, the Reds have started preparing for life after Salah and are scouring the market for his long-term replacement. And SPORT (h/t Fichajes) claims that the Merseyside giants have made a €120m offer for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo. However, Real Madrid have declined the proposal from Liverpool.

Since arriving from Santos in 2019, Rodrygo, 23, has proven to be one of the prized assets for Real Madrid. He has starred in many big games in recent years and helped Los Blancos win multiple trophies, including the Champions League this past season.

The Brazil international enjoyed a richly successful 2023/24 season with Real Madrid, contributing 17 goals and nine assists en route to winning the La Liga and the Champions League. The 23-year-old’s impressive showings in a Real Madrid shirt have also attracted the interests of Chelsea and Manchester City, with the report claiming Rodrygo recently rejected an offer from the former.

It must be noted that the recent blockbuster signing of French superstar Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain has led to a lot of speculation around Rodrygo’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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However, Real have made it clear that they have no intention of selling Rodrygo this summer by turning down a mammoth offer from Liverpool, further highlighting the player’s importance to the club. Real manager Carlo Ancelotti and president Florentino Perez highly rate the Brazilian, viewing him as a key figure in the present and future of the club.

This comes as a big blow for Liverpool as Rodrygo would have been such a terrific addition to Arne Slot’s side. The ex-Santos man can operate in multiple attacking positions, create chances, supply assists and score goals, as demonstrated in Spain in recent years. Also, he could have been viewed as a potential long-term replacement for Salah, whose future at Anfield continues to remain up in the air.