Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring one of Liverpool's star defenders ahead of a potential transfer. 

Los Blancos are widely understood to be looking for a new central defender, with their interest in Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger having made a number of headlines over the past few months.  

Scroll through the mini-gallery above to see three big players who have been linked with a switch to Real of late

Having lost two key centre-backs in the previous transfer window in Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, who joined Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United respectively, the Spanish giants only brought in David Alaba from Bayern Munich as their replacement. 

With Rudiger continuing to negotiate a potential new contract at Stamford Bridge, Carlo Ancelotti's side are now said to be looking at Reds defender Joe Gomez, according to BBC Sport. 

In the 2019/20 campaign, the England international was considered part of the Merseysiders' first-choice centre-back pairing along with Virgil van Dijk, but he appears to have fallen down Jurgen Klopp's pecking order at Anfield following the long-term knee injury that kept him sidelined for the majority of the 2020/21 season.  

The arrival of Ibrahima Konate from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig earlier this year has also played a role, with the Frenchman having impressed when deputising for Van Dijk and Joel Matip in this campaign.

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It has also been claimed, by the Daily Express, that Liverpool are eyeing FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo as a potential replacement for Gomez should he make the move to Madrid. 

Although his contract is only set to expire in June 2024, Gomez has also been linked with a transfer to Aston Villa, who now seemingly face stiff competition from Real for his signature. 

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