Real Madrid irk Liverpool by offering target back to his former club

Dani Ceballos: Linked with Arsenal move

Dani Ceballos: Linked with Arsenal move

Real Madrod are ready to deal Liverpool a hammer blow in their hopes of signing a replacement for Philippe Coutinho this summer.

The Brazilian left Anfield for Barcelona in January for a British-record £142million, but the Reds did not splash the cash on a replacement.

Jurgen Klopp though is expected to spend the cash on an attacking player this summer and Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos has been linked with a transfer.

In February El Chiringuito claimed Ceballos wanted to move to Anfield in January and will chase a move to the Premier League in the summer.

But Real have other plans for the 21-year-old, who has made only three La Liga starts since he arrived at the Bernabeu from Real Betis for €17million last summer.

Don Balon report that Real chief Florentino Perez is set to sanction a €500million war chest for Zinedine Zidane which will see the arrival of three high profile signings.

And the trio in question are Neymar, Mohamed Salah and Betis star Fabian Ruiz.

Real Betis midfielder Ruiz is the surprise name on their wanted list and they are prepared to offer Ceballos in return.

That news will come as a big blow Jurgen Klopp, and to Roma who are also believed to be chasing the player, who has a mammoth a €500million release clause in his contract.

Betis tried to re-sign Ceballos back in January but registration rules scuppered that transfer, but skipper Joaquin last month set his sights on the player.

“Dani could do a great job for us,” Joaquin told El Pelotazo.

“He is a fantastic player that would be an important part of any team and obviously he will want to play.

“We would welcome him back with open arms because we know what Betis means to him and he would improve us, and we would improve him.”

Betis denied Ceballos was an option for them earlier this month, but if Ruiz departs they may well change tact and try and bring him back to Seville.

“Ceballos is not a player that we have on the table right now,” Los Verdiblancos president Angel Haro told Cadena Cope.