Liverpool and Real Madrid set for transfer battle in attempt to sign 21-year-old defender: Reports
Liverpool and Real Madrid are set to battle for the chance to sign Castello Lukeba, according to a report by Madrid Universal. The 21-year-old has been formidable in recent times, and this has put him on the radar of top European giants.
An overview of Liverpool's center-back position could indicate that Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez are the current options. As the leader in the center-back position, Van Dijk's current contract is set to expire next summer, and he's yet to sign an extension. This might be why Liverpool's hierarchy could be looking to sign Lukeba.
Similarly, they might also be looking to sign Lukeba as a potential replacement for Joel Matip, who recently retired.
On the flip side, Real Madrid could be looking to add some depth in the center-back position. This could be tied to David Alaba's fitness concerns, as the Austrian has struggled to remain fit this season. Lukeba could also be seen as a potential replacement for Jesus Vallejo, whose contract would expire next summer.
In the 2024-25 Bundesliga, Lukeba has registered 22 ball recoveries, winning 32 duels and making three interceptions. He's currently recovering from a muscle injury, having registered 12 appearances for RB Leipzig this season.
The Frenchman's current contract at RB Leipzig would expire in June 2029, and his release clause is approximately €90 million, according to Fichajes.net. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool or Real Madrid break the bank and attempt to sign him in the coming months.
Real Madrid hierarchy interested in signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen - Reports
Real Madrid are also interested in signing Florian Wirtz, according to a report by Tribal Football. This could be tied to the club's desire to improve the creative aspect of the attack.
The German international has been outstanding for Bayern Munich this season, scoring seven goals and registering one assist in 15 appearances. His creativity, having created 25 chances in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, could also be pivotal in getting the best out of Kylian Mbappe.
According to Sky Deutschland's Florian Plettenberg, negotiations between the LaLiga giants and Wirtz's entourage have begun but there is no agreement in place with Bayern.
With a current market value of €130 million according to Transfermarkt, it remains to be seen if Los Blancos would sign Wirtz.