Rodrygo to Liverpool? How a move for €100m-rated Real Madrid star could transform Arne Slot's Premier League champions

After securing the Premier League crown with four games to spare, Liverpool have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer window so far, bolstering their title-winning team with a number of high-profile signings.

Next on the Reds' list appears to be French striker Hugo Ekitike, and they have reportedly agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt on a deal in principle worth £82.3m including add-ons, but the Merseysiders are not expected to stop there.

With Luis Diaz linked to Bayern Munich and Saudi Pro League clubs, Arne Slot's side have been credited with an interest in €100m (£86.7m)-rated Real Madrid star Rodrygo as a replacement, and the 24-year-old would represent yet another coup.

However, if the defending champions of England are to fit the frightening four-man attack of Ekitike, Rodrygo, Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah into the same XI, then the manager will need to axe one of his league-winning midfield trio from the lineup.

Given Ryan Gravenberch's excellent campaign that culminated in a Young Player of the Year award, and the standout season from Alexis Mac Allister that established him as one of the best midfielders around, Dominik Szoboszlai is the most likely to make way, though removing his physicality could create an imbalance in the team.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Rodrygo could feature for Liverpool, and considers the ramifications of a potential transfer.

How does Rodrygo play for Real Madrid, and where could the Brazilian start for Liverpool?

In the early days of the 2025 summer transfer window, reports emerged suggesting that Slot was aiming to recruit a versatile forward capable of performing across the frontline when needed.

With this in mind, it makes sense that Rodrygo would be of interest to sporting director Richard Hughes considering that he is supposedly out of favour with new Real manager Xabi Alonso and does not have a settled position to call his own at the Bernabeu.

During his six seasons with Los Blancos, the Brazilian has been utilised in a number of roles but has most often been deployed on the right flank, despite the fact that he is generally considered to be a left-winger.

While Rodrygo's versatility is a major strength, the prospect of consistently starting for the Reds in his natural position - rather than having to accommodate the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe - could be key in tempting the forward to make the switch.

As for the numbers, the former Santos man scored just six goals in la Liga in 2024-25 from his purported weaker side, but he did play almost 500 fewer minutes than in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, and over-performed by netting six from an expected goals tally of 4.72, a stat indicative of high-quality finishing.

How could Slot fit Rodrygo into his new-look team?

A player of Rodrygo's calibre could fit anywhere in most frontlines in world football, but he would almost certainly be a replacement on the left flank for the outgoing Diaz should he move to Anfield.

From the left wing, the Brazilian would likely join Premier League record signing Wirtz and club-legend Salah in a deadly trio behind inbound striker Ekitike.

The Real forward could also line up on the right in place of Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations, reducing the impact of his absence on Liverpool.

However, in order to squeeze four attack-focused stars into the XI, Slot is likely to relegate Szoboszlai to the bench, leaving Gravenberch and Mac Allister as a pair in the centre of the park.

While the duo have proven themselves capable partners in both a defensive and attacking capacity, they are unable to cover ground as quickly as the number eight, and could be caught out by more fleet-footed opponents.

Why is Dominik Szoboszlai so important for Liverpool?

The Hungarian national team captain was singled out for criticism at times by pundits for a lack of offensive output in 2024-25, but he was trusted by the boss in the biggest of matches against the likes of Manchester City.

Fans may have been frustrated by a meagre return in terms of goal contributions last season, but Szoboszlai's tireless running was vital for the functionality of the team's right-hand side that featured an ageing Salah and a famously lacklustre defender in Alexander-Arnold.

Removing his engine from the XI could leave the Reds exposed to transition-based attacks, especially with doubts about the defensive ability of Jeremie Frimpong, who spent the majority of his Bundesliga career as a front-footed wing-back rather than a full-back.

However, the arrival of the former Leverkusen man, as well as that of Milos Kerkez, hints at a change of approach from Slot in 2025-26, and the former Feyenoord head-coach may have prepared a solution to reduce his side's over-reliance on Szoboszlai's running.

How might Liverpool's midfield cope without Szoboszlai?

The Reds kicked off their preseason schedule with a 3-1 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale last Sunday, and while Szoboszlai took part, he did not feature in his typical role.

Instead, the 24-year-old was operating in the deeper areas that Slot said he prefers, staying more central than usual as part of a new shape for Liverpool.

Additionally, full-backs Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas were seen stationed alongside the midfielders at times rather than making constant overlapping runs, frequently leaving the wingers as the widest of the visiting players.

This inverted positioning differs from the inverted, quarter-back-style role that Alexander-Arnold assumed at times for Liverpool, as Slot's defenders were making vertical runs rather than staying in midfield zones to make passes.

The manager also experimented with this systemic change after the league title was secured, most notably in the 3-2 defeat against Brighton on May 19, and by asking his full-backs to make their box-to-box runs closer to the centre of the pitch, he may have found a solution to defending the half-spaces that can allow a midfield to thrive even without Szoboszlai.