LIVERPOOL could be set to lose a second top star to a Madrid rival after Atletico Madrid reportedly made Andy Robertson their top target.
The Reds are already reeling from the loss of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid and could now be forced to deal with the loss of left-back Robertson in the same window.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish giants’ neighbours to Alexander-Arnold’s new employers Real, have internally identified him as an ideal candidate.
Liverpool are set to add Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez to their ranks in the coming weeks after bringing in Jeremie Frimpong on the other flank.
However, Romano describes the potential loss of the Scottish defender as “not easy” because he is still rated highly at the club.
Robertson, 31, is rated higher on Atletico’s list of targets than wantaway AC Milan star Theo Hernandez.
He joined Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp in an £8million deal from Hull in 2017.
Since then, he has gone on to make 342 appearances for the Anfield outfit, scoring 11 goals and adding 67 assists.
His honours include two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
After Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool was confirmed Robertson issued a heartfelt message to him.
He said: “I can tell you how I feel about it – I’m extremely proud of what he’s done for this club.
“I love him as a friend, I love him as a player and he’ll be missed as one of my best friends in the game.”
A move for his potential replacement in Kerkez could cost Liverpool around £45m.
Combined with the £29.5m they paid to land Frimpong and the record-breaking £116.5m deal they have struck to also land Florian Wirtz, it could bring their summer spending up to just shy of £200m.
Robertson potentially joining Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side would see him link up with a familiar face in ex-Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Meanwhile, it would also mean he will be directly battling it out with Alexander-Arnold when the Madrid derby rolls around.
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