Real Madrid have beaten Liverpool to the signing of Theo Hernandez.
A verbal agreement has been reached between the reigning European champions and local rivals Atletico Madrid for the defender’s transfer this summer.
Hernandez is currently on loan with Alaves and had attracted interest from both the Reds and Barcelona, who both made enquiries to Madrid’s secondary club.
The 19-year-old could have left the Vicente Calderon for €24 million due to a buy-out clause in his contract, which Liverpool were more than willing to meet.
Talks were opened between Atleti officials and their Anfield chiefs in efforts to prevent him from moving across the Spanish capital, previously an unwritten rule.
However it is Real who are reportedly firmly in pole position to land Hernandez despite their counterparts’ best attempts and anger.
According to AS, the Atleti hierarchy are angered by Real’s decision to finalise a deal for the left-back before their Champions League semi-final tie had concluded.
Miguel Angel Gil Marin, the club’s CEO, demanded €30m from Los Blancos for Hernandez, who is understood to have completed a medical on Monday.