Liverpool have a long and storied history that runs alongside Real Madrid, and that looks set to continue in the upcoming transfer windows.
The Reds recently lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu’s bright lights last summer, while central defender Ibrahima Konate and midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have also been linked with potential moves to the Spanish capital recently.
But it has now emerged that chief scout Juni Calafat has now identified another one of Anfield’s heroes as a potential target to make the move to Real Madrid, as they continue to look to add some of Europe’s top talents to their squad.
Real Madrid Eyeing Hugo Ekitike Move
Premier League – Leeds United v Liverpool – Elland Road, Leeds, Britain – December 6, 2025 Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Liverpool are bracing themselves for interest from Real Madrid in star forward Hugo Ekitike after his impressive campaign this season, according to TEAMtalk.
The France international joined the club in a deal worth over £70m last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt and has exceeded expectations, registering 17 goals in 42 appearances so far to lead the line in the absence of £125m man Alexander Isak.
Those performances have seen Real Madrid step up their interest in Ekitike, as they look to continue their long-term squad succession planning. The 23-year-old is understood to have ‘climbed sharply’ up their internal ranks, and he is now viewed as ‘one of the most promising young forwards in the world’.
Ekitike, described as ‘elite’, is now on a shortlist alongside Man City star Erling Haaland, and while there is no move being immediately planned, Real Madrid could look to firm up their interest in the 2027 summer window.
Liverpool in Strong Position for Talks
Ekitike put pen to paper on a six-year deal at Anfield when he joined last summer, so even if Real Madrid are planning to delay their move for the young forward, then he will still have four years remaining on his deal.
That puts Liverpool in the perfect position to set their stall out for negotiations, which would likely be a very stern ‘not for sale’ stance, with Ekitike’s performances making him one of their most important players now.
With Mohamed Salah departing this summer, there is a big chance for the Frenchman to step up and make a starting spot his own, even when everyone is fit, and cement himself at Liverpool.
Manchester United are facing a battle in their hopes of landing Newcastle United star Lewis Hall, as a Premier League rival has joined the race, according to TeamTalk.
The England international has emerged as a key target for the Red Devils this summer, as they switch focus to improving the left-back ranks over the course of the transfer market.
It has been a problem position for several seasons, with Luke Shaw‘s fitness concerns joined by the inability to land a competitive replacement in recent transfer windows.
While the 30-year-old improved his availability last season, a return to the Champions League for next season means that several targets are on the radar to help deal with the increasingly busy schedule.
Hall appears to be target number one, but there is a fresh challenge in trying to secure his signature.
While there is some hope of getting a deal done, TeamTalk now reports that Premier League rivals Chelsea are in the conversation to sign the 21-year-old in the transfer window.
It’s claimed that the Blues are eyeing a possible return for the star, who came through the club’s academy ranks as a youngster before making the switch to Newcastle.
Chelsea have made enquiries over the possibility, which may only ramp up due to Marc Cucurella’s transfer to Real Madrid going through after a swift agreement was reached for the Spaniard.
The £60 million fee could prove to be prohibitive, with it being double the £30 million fee they managed to sell Hall for just a few years ago.
That said, the sale of Cucurella does mean the West London club now have money to burn at left-back, which could rock Man United in their own hopes of landing Hall.
The report claims that the 21-year-old is the “leading target” for the Red Devils this summer, but now face a battle on their hands to land him.
You scored
out of 20
Hall Deal Importance
via Reuters
Manchester United’s chase for a left-back will be key heading into next season, as the squad can’t be left short for such an important area with the return of the Champions League.
Enzo Fernandez opens up on Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup triumph, and the pressure of defending the trophy on the biggest stage.
In this exclusive interview with Ben Jacobs, Enzo Fernandez reflects on winning the World Cup with Messi, his emotional first goal for Argentina, Dibu Martinez’s iconic final save, and what it means to represent Argentina heading into another massive tournament. Enzo also discusses his evolution as a player, growing into a leadership role, and his dream of one day captaining the national team.
From Messi’s influence to Argentina’s winning mentality, this is Enzo Fernandez on the moments that shaped his career — and what comes next.
According to reports, FIFA have managed to ban fans from one nation from bringing their own flags to World Cup games this summer. The ruling was upheld after a last-minute hearing in Los Angeles on Monday.
The team in question are Iran. Their supporters will no longer be able to wave pre-revolutionary flags at their matches in the United States this summer. They have games to come against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, which all take place in the US.
There is a current conflict between the two nations, and it was unclear if Iran would be able to compete at the tournament. They were supposed to have their training camp in Tucson, Arizona, but that was moved to Tijuana, Mexico. There have also been claims that they will only be allowed into the US to play their matches, before then immediately flying out of the country.
The flag is similar to the country’s official flag but features a lion and sun motif in the standard’s centre.
It was the subject of a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday by the Institute for Voice of Liberty and Sam Kermanian, an Iran fan intending to go to the game. Just hours before their match against the All Whites, it was ruled that the ban should be allowed to stand.
Judge Curtis A. Kin said:
“Free speech is incredibly important, it is sacred, a bedrock of our society, but it is not without limitation, such as private actor, on private property, and as shown by previous cases, regulating in reasonable way. I deny the application.”
The flag in question is historically associated with the country’s previous Shah-led regime, which was deposed in 1979. Judge Kin explained his reasoning, adding: “There may be harm to some 2,500 staff members who have to deal with safety protocols.
“It is a tremendous burden to change a long-standing stadium protocol for a massive event in a period of hours. It is hard to see how FIFA could make a change at one stadium and not the rest.” He argued a stadium, where a ticket for entry is required, is not pubic like a park or a street.
FIFA Deem Pre-Revolutionary Iran Flags As ‘Political’ in Nature
Lawyer Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh, representing Iran fan Kermanian, argued that the World Cup is a joint venture between FIFA and governments and therefore the stadium is taking on a public forum. Speaking on behalf of 5,000 members of the Institute for Voice of Liberty:
“They are ticket holders, with a right to attend game with their own flag. This is being violated. It may be trivial to many, to them it is critical. There is a huge Iranian community in California, many are not going to want to walk in with Islamic Republic flag. They are being denied their exercise of free speech. This is not someone yelling fire in a theatre.”
Judge Kin responded: “So you could walk in with a Nazi flag or Confederate flag or Soviet flag or that of the KKK?” To which Mokhtarzadeh claimed that those people should also be protected by the right to free speech. He added: “Denial will cause more problems than are lost. (Allowing the lion and sun flag) is a way of preventing problems in the stadium. Right to free speech far outweighs any concern FIFA may have.”
FIFA appear to have taken issue with the pre-revolutionary flag, as it has been deemed “political” in nature. A source inside FIFA with direct knowledge of its position told The Athletic that this is the case.
On that, a past statement explained what ‘materials’ would not be allowed in World Cup stadiums: “Any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”
