Rumor Mongering: Dani Ceballos Forever

The once and future Liverpool target returns.

We’ve become more than intimate with the journalistic (?) stylings of Mundo Deportivo over the past year. At most times the Spanish publication acts more like the propaganda mouthpiece for Barcelona than anything else.

So, as they are wont to do, they are back with another transfer rumor about rivals Real Madrid, and spinning the narrative that Liverpool need a Philippe Coutinho replacement. (Mates, have you seen us lately? We don’t need a replacement. But cheers for all the cash.)

Once again, Mundo Deportivo have proffered 21-year-old midfield prospect Dani Ceballos as the answer to Liverpool’s lack of Coutinho non-woes. How kind of them.

Ceballos, brought in by Madrid for £15 million last year, still remains on the fringes of the first team. He has started just 2 league matches, racking up a total of 295 minutes between La Liga and Champions League action. However, in those two starts he managed two goals, both coming in the 2-1 win over Alaves in September.

This is all to say that Jürgen Klopp is unlikely to splash the cash necessary to bring in Ceballos, who seems unlikely to be more than “one for the future.” He’s made clear both last summer and in the upcoming window that he is only interested in players who are going to improve the starting XI.

Any incoming midfielder is going to have to be able to at least push for a starting role, and at minimum improve our matchday squad. Ceballos just isn’t there yet.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com