Meanwhile Liverpool's attack is currently undergoing something of a restructuring with Luis Diaz sold to Bayern Munich and Hugo Ekitike joining from Eintracht Frankfurt. As well as Rodrygo, Alexander Isak continues to be linked with a move to Anfield after a £110m offer was rejected last week.

That news was backed up by DAVEOCKOP, who claimed Liverpool want Rodrygo not just to secure a great signing but also in order to ‘land a psychological blow to Real Madrid’, with the Reds ‘ready to mount a strong bid’ for the winger who’s thought to be valued by Los Blancos at €90m [£78m].

Alonso moved to dampen chatter over Rodrygo’s future ahead of Madrid’s Club World Cup clash with Al-Hilal last month, claiming the three-time La Liga winner was ‘eager to contribute’. ‘I know what happened last season. The end of the campaign wasn’t easy for him,’ the new Madrid head coach told reporters in Miami.