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Liverpool to rival Manchester United, Real Madrid for Rodrigo Bentancur?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 15 December 2022

Liverpool to rival Man United, Real Madrid for Rodrigo Bentancur?

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United reportedly all hold an interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United are reportedly all interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Uruguay international arrived in North London from Juventus during the January transfer window and immediately cemented his place in Antonio Conte's XI.

Bentancur formed a regular midfield partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in his first half-season at Tottenham and played a major part in the Lilywhites' qualification for the Champions League.

Despite the signing of Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp's recovery from injury, Bentancur has remained Conte's first pick in the heart of midfield and started all three of Uruguay's group games at the World Cup.

The 25-year-old is under contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, but multiple teams are believed to have been monitoring his progress in England.

Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur on September 17, 2022 © Reuters

According to El Crack Deportivo, Real Madrid, Man United and Liverpool are all keen on a move for Bentancur, although it is difficult to envisage Tottenham sanctioning a sale.

Bentancur represented Boca Juniors for eight years between 2009 and 2017 before making the move to Juventus, and the report adds that the Argentine outfit's vice-president Juan Roman Riquelme wants to bring him back to South America as well.

However, Boca Juniors would likely be forced to wait several years before trying to re-sign Bentancur, who has shone for Spurs this season with five goals and two assists in 21 appearances.

The 25-year-old has hit four goals in 14 Premier League outings for Spurs in 2022-23, and his total for the Lilywhites now stands at five goals and six assists from 39 matches since his January signing.

Bentancur sustained an adductor injury during the World Cup, though, and there are fears that he could be sidelined for up to three weeks, but he is set to miss Tottenham's Boxing Day clash with Brentford due to suspension in any case.

Tottenham Hotspur's Rodrigo Bentancur reacts on February 5, 2022 © Reuters

Liverpool are known to be in the market for a big-money midfield signing, and the Reds are said to have reached an agreement in principle to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica next year.

Real Madrid could also lose Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on free transfers in the summer of 2023, and Liverpool signing Fernandez could give Los Blancos a free run at Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, Man United's lengthy pursuit of Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong ended in failure over the summer, but Erik ten Hag will most likely seek additions to his engine room in 2023.

Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi, Leeds United's Tyler Adams and AC Milan's Ismael Bennacer are among the names to have been linked with a move to Old Trafford in time for next season.