Liverpool and Newcastle ready to battle for Spanish wonderkid who is shining on loan at Real Madrid

Posted Saturday, March 04, 2023 by TEAMtalk

Liverpool and Newcastle are both reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen forward Iker Bravo, who is on loan at Real Madrid’s second side, Castilla.

The 18-year-old has been in fine form under the guidance of Castilla manager and legendary Madrid striker Raul, attracting the interest of several European clubs.

Both the Reds and the Magpies seem to be targeting young players at the moment and Bravo could represent an excellent long-term investment for either of the Premier League rivals.

The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen’s youth side from Barcelona in 2021, where he scored seven goals in 14 outings for the German club’s under-19s side, as well as making two senior appearances.

At the beginning of the current campaign, he was loaned to Barca’s rivals, Madrid and has now established himself as a regular starter in their B team.

In 22 appearances this season, Bravo has scored five times and made three assists, giving him an impressive average of 0.36 goal contributions per match.

The youngster is versatile, too, with the ability to play as a central striker or as a winger on either flank. He is pacey, skilful and exciting to watch, so it’s unsurprising to see several clubs interested in his signature.

Liverpool and Newcastle to maintain youth focus

According to transfer expert Duncan Castles, via the Daily Record, both Liverpool and Newcastle are interested in making a summer move for Bravo.

It is believed that there is a £9m buy-out clause in his current loan deal with Real Madrid, but as per Castles’ report, they are currently unwilling to pay that fee, opening the door for the Premier League duo.

Indeed, Bravo would probably have more of a chance of breaking into Liverpool or Newcastle’s starting XI, with both sides putting an emphasis on utilising young talents this season.

For example, Jurgen Klopp has heavily relied upon 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bacjetic in recent weeks, who has made eight Premier League appearances so far.

The Reds have also signed the likes of Fabio Carvalho (19) and Calvin Ramsay (18) this season, so the German manager is clearly planning for the future.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have brought in Garang Kuol (18) and Anthony Gordon (21) recently, who could both prove to be important players under Eddie Howe in the future.

Bravo certainly has the potential to become a quality attacking player in the future, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the battle for his signature if Madrid do opt against signing him this summer.

As mentioned, the Spaniard currently has a £9m buy-ouy clause in his deal with Madrid, so a similar fee would likely be required from Liverpool or Newcastle to get a deal over the line.