Liverpool Join Premier League Suitors Tracking Como's Jacobo Ramon Amid Real Madrid Buyback Complication

The Reds' title defence has hit a rough patch. Having cruised to last season's Premier League crown and rattled off five straight wins at the start of this campaign, Liverpool have slipped to fourth place, now trailing third-placed Aston Villa by eight points. Their backline has become a particular headache—28 goals conceded already this term—and their traditional approach of outgunning opponents while playing fast and loose at the back has finally caught up with them.

The injury situation hasn't helped matters. Ibrahima Konate hasn't replicated his earlier dominance, whilst Conor Bradley faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery sustained against Arsenal. With their defensive stocks depleted, Liverpool have begun casting their net wider.

Enter Jacobo Ramon. The 21-year-old Como centre-back has caught the attention of several top-flight scouts, and Liverpool are among the clubs keeping close tabs on the summer signing from Real Madrid. Chelsea and Tottenham are similarly interested, whilst Newcastle, Brighton and Crystal Palace have also dispatched scouts to monitor his progress since December.

Ramon has earned plaudits for his consistency at Como and is regarded as a prospect of considerable promise. However, any English club harbouring ambitions of securing his services faces a decidedly uphill battle.

The defender is contracted until 2030, which affords Como considerable leverage in negotiations. That's before factoring in Real Madrid's entitlement to 50 per cent of any transfer fee—a cut that will substantially inflate the asking price. But there's a catch that could prove even more troublesome: Los Blancos retain a buyback clause valued at just €8million (£6.9m).

Should Real Madrid decide Ramon represents value for their project, they can simply activate that clause and bring him back to the Bernabéu. The simplicity of that route means English clubs would need to table offers substantially beyond what they might ordinarily consider palatable—and that's assuming Real aren't already eyeing a route back for their former academy product.