Real Madrid want 'win-win' swap deal involving Liverpool midfielder

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes faces a pivotal summer as contract uncertainty clouds the future of Dominik Szoboszlai, with Real Madrid reportedly open to a high-profile swap proposal that could reshape both clubs’ midfields and attacks.

The Hungary international, valued at up to £100 million with two years remaining on his current deal, has yet to commit to an extension at Anfield. That hesitation has forced Hughes into a balancing act: secure Szoboszlai’s signature on Liverpool’s terms or risk seeing the 23-year-old’s market value erode over the next 24 months.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Madrid have floated the idea of a “win-win” exchange that would send Szoboszlai to the Bernabéu while bringing long-time Liverpool target Rodrygo Goes to Merseyside. The Brazilian winger, 25, has started only six La Liga matches this season before an injury setback and, with his contract running until 2028, is unlikely to renew while confined to a rotational role under Carlo Ancelotti’s evolving project.

Rodrygo’s trophy haul—two Champions League titles and a raft of domestic honours since his 2019 arrival—makes him an attractive proposition for Liverpool, who are bracing for potential exits on the flanks. Concerns over the long-term futures of Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa have accelerated the club’s search for fresh wide options, and Rodrygo’s versatility across the front three fits the profile sought by recruitment staff.

Yet Fichajes notes that Liverpool could leverage Madrid’s interest in Szoboszlai to pursue alternative targets. Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni have both been monitored by Anfield scouts and would offer a more direct replacement for Szoboszlai’s creative engine-room output. Either French international would command a significant valuation, but inclusion in a swap framework could offset costs for both clubs.

Negotiations remain hypothetical, yet the report underlines Madrid’s willingness to discuss creative solutions as they plan a midfield rebuild. For Liverpool, the stakes are equally high: cash in on Szoboszlai now, integrate a marquee arrival, or double down on contract talks and risk losing leverage in future windows.

With pre-season planning already under way, Hughes and his Madrid counterparts could open formal discussions once the summer transfer window approaches, setting the stage for one of the market’s most intricate swap sagas.