Why Ronaldo to Juventus is great news for Liverpool transfer hopes

CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid rises to meet a corner during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid rises to meet a corner during the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

As the huge transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus moves nearer it could have a big positive impact on Liverpool’s transfer plans for this summer.

The biggest news in football outside of the World Cup is the transfer move of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for £88 million. The Italian giant have submitted a bid that meets Real’s valuation and the European champions are willing to sell.

The blockbuster deal could open up a ton of good outcomes for Liverpool including in one or two potential transfers.

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The obvious benefit to Liverpool is that Real Madrid will very much be in the market for a new forward or two. Three months ago that news would send terror into Liverpool fans who are too used to seeing top stars flee to Spain under the lure of Real and Barcelona.

However, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have just signed new long-term deals. Another for Sadio Mane is reportedly very close to being inked. Crucially they do not have transfer release fees. Reds can sleep easy.

Liverpool’s rivals will be sweating. Eden Hazard of Chelsea is the most obvious name being linked to Real. He is a top quality forward who can play in the same role as Ronaldo. He will also be looking to leave a Chelsea side on a downward slope who won’t even have Champions League football next season.

Tottenham Hotspur will also be nervous about a few of their stars. Harry Kane has long been linked to Real but just signed a new deal. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are two who are more likely to be tied to Madrid moves. Spurs have history of selling their best players to Real after Luka Modric and Gareth Bale left in successive summers.

In the transfer market Real will now need to focus their attentions and resources towards strikers; PSG duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are two heavily linked but both would cost a fortune. That opens up the likelihood that Real will not fork out top dollar for a goalkeeper.

That could take them out of the market for Alisson Becker, Jan Oblak or Thibaut Courtois; leaving Liverpool as the one of the leading contenders to sign one of the world-class keepers on the market.

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There is also slight comfort for Liverpool fans who are hoping that the club make good on the rumors linking the Reds to Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio. A Ronaldo departure indicates a willingness to rework their attack next season. Asensio could find himself out of new manager Julen Lopetegui’s plans.