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What's the story?
James Rodriguez is all set to cut short his loan spell with Bayern Munich, and instead of returning to Real Madrid, opt for a permanent move to Liverpool, according to a report in British news outlet, The Daily Express, who sourced the rumour from Spanish publication, Diario Gol.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is on the lookout for a superstar to replace Philippe Coutinho, who recently departed to Barcelona for €120 million (and add-ons). The German has identified James Rodriguez as the ideal target, and with the Reds still having only spent have of the Coutinho cash, they could pull off a big-money move.
Also Read: 10 biggest spenders of the January Transfer Window
In case you didn't know...
James Rodriguez entered the record books with his first ever professional start for Colombian club Envigado in 2006, at the tender age of 14. Two years later, he made a move abroad to Argentina, signing for Banfield. Having lit up the Clausura and the Copa Libertadores, James moved to Europe in 2010, with FC Porto paying a fee of €5.1 million. A stellar three seasons at the club resulted in a stunning €45 million move to AS Monaco. The Colombian shot to worldwide fame with his performances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, resulting in a €80 million move to Real Madrid shortly after. However, Rodriguez struggled to break into the first team and was hence loaned out to Bayern Munich at the start of the 2017/18 season.
The heart of the matter
The terms of Bayern Munich's loan agreement allow for a recall after the 2017/18 season, but if Zinedine Zidane is still in charge of Los Blancos, James Rodriguez will not remain with the club. The opportunity to recoup their transfer fee might tempt Madrid into accepting a bid from Liverpool.
The report in Diario Gol claims that James Rodriguez' agent, Jorge Mendez, seeks to take advantage of yet another stellar FIFA World Cup showing from the Colombian, and thus make a lucrative move to the Premier League. James is already on his way to redeeming his stock in the transfer market, having become an important part of Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich side.
Rumour Reliability
4/10
Diario Gol is hardly the most reliable of Spanish news outlets, but given how incessant the rumour is that James Rodriguez will cut short his loan spell with Bayern Munich, there may be a minuscule amount of truth to this rumour.
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Author's Take
James Rodriguez' role as a No.10 has dwindled in top-level football, but Liverpool remain one of the few clubs who still use it. The Red are flush with cash, and the Colombian could conceivably earn much more at Anfield rather than staying with Bayern Munich.
