Not Konate or Mac Allister: Liverpool ‘panicking’ over new contract for ‘underpaid’ Anfield star Real Madrid want

Liverpool are living through a storm of worry again, this time not about injuries or defeats, but about the future of one of their brightest stars. Inside the club, people are said to be panicking. Not about Ibrahima Konate, not about Mohamed Salah, but about Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder, who came to Anfield in 2023 with fire in his eyes and a point to prove, has become one of the club’s most important players, and suddenly, Real Madrid are watching him closely. That alone is enough to cause sleepless nights in the Liverpool boardroom. When Real Madrid start circling, everyone in football knows what happens next — pressure, fear, and temptation.

It started quietly. A few weeks ago, Liverpool opened talks with Szoboszlai about a new contract. The discussions were supposed to be calm and routine, a way to reward a player who has been outstanding since his arrival. But then things changed. Reports from Hungary said Liverpool were now panicking, that Real Madrid had entered the picture, and even Manchester City were watching the situation with interest. Suddenly, what was meant to be a smooth extension became a battle of urgency, pride, and money.

Liverpool fans know how important Szoboszlai has been this season. From midfield to right-back, from pressing high to creating chances, he has done it all with energy and class. Jamie Carragher even called him Liverpool’s best player this season. He plays with the intensity of a man who never wants to lose, and with the confidence of someone who knows he belongs at the top. In training, teammates say his standards are frighteningly high. In matches, he is everywhere — tackling, passing, scoring, leading. It’s no surprise that other clubs have started to take notice.

For Real Madrid, it fits a pattern. They have already taken Trent Alexander-Arnold from Anfield, and their interest in other Liverpool players has been constant. First it was Alexis Mac Allister, then Konate, and now Szoboszlai. The Spanish giants are always hungry for the next leader, the next superstar, and they see something in the Hungarian. They see youth, hunger, and a player who could grow into one of the best midfielders in the world.

The problem for Liverpool is that Szoboszlai’s contract, though lasting until 2028, does not truly reflect his value anymore. According to reports, he earns around £120,000 a week. That might sound like a lot, but in football terms, for a player of his influence, it’s considered underpaid. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the club’s top earners, are said to make between £350,000 and £400,000 weekly. That’s almost three times more than Szoboszlai. In a team where wages reflect importance, the gap feels unfair. And when you add Real Madrid’s interest to the mix, the danger becomes very real.

The Hungarian media have said Liverpool’s board are now moving fast. They don’t want another saga like the one with Konate, who reportedly rejected a new deal and is waiting to see what Madrid does next. Liverpool’s owners want to avoid another embarrassment, especially with Arne Slot’s project still in its early stages. Szoboszlai is not just a good player — he represents the new Liverpool: young, fearless, and full of drive. Losing him now would send the wrong message.

Inside Anfield, there’s talk of a new offer. Liverpool are ready to raise Szoboszlai’s salary to between £180,000 and £200,000 per week. That would put him in a higher bracket, alongside the most valued players in the squad, and it could total over £10 million a year. It’s a sign that the club is serious, but whether it will be enough to stop the whispers from Spain and Manchester remains to be seen.

What makes this story more dramatic is the sense that Szoboszlai is already seen as a future captain. Reports say Liverpool view him as someone who could wear the armband after Virgil van Dijk, whose contract ends in 2027. By that time, Van Dijk will be 36, and the team will need new leadership. Szoboszlai, with his work ethic and calm authority, fits the image perfectly. The idea of losing him before that future even begins is something Liverpool can’t afford to imagine.

But this is football, and football never stops testing loyalty. Real Madrid have a reputation for turning admiration into action. When they want a player, they don’t stop until they get him. They’ve done it for decades — Zidane, Ronaldo, Bale, Bellingham. They identify, they wait, and then they strike. For Liverpool, that means they need to move faster than ever. They can’t give Madrid even the smallest window of hope.

The tension now is about more than money. It’s about pride. It’s about Liverpool proving they can keep their best players despite the power of Madrid or the lure of City. Fans have watched too many stars leave in the past. They saw Philippe Coutinho leave for Barcelona, and though Liverpool grew stronger after that, the wound took time to heal. This time, they don’t want another heartbreak. They want the club to fight, to protect its future, to show that Anfield is still a place where dreams grow, not fade.

Szoboszlai himself has given little away. He’s focused, quiet, and determined. When asked about his future, he talks only about football, about winning, about giving everything for the shirt. Those close to him say he loves Liverpool — the fans, the city, the energy. But they also say he’s ambitious. He wants to play at the very top, win everything, and be remembered as one of the best. That ambition is what makes him special, but it’s also what makes this situation delicate.♦

The question now is whether Liverpool can match that ambition. Offering more money is one thing, but showing real vision is another. Players like Szoboszlai want to believe in the project, in the path ahead. They want to see that the club can compete for the biggest trophies, that they won’t be left behind while others rise. That’s why Arne Slot’s leadership will be crucial. The Dutch manager must convince him that Liverpool’s future is bright, that he will be at the heart of everything the club builds.

Behind the scenes, the talks continue. Liverpool’s executives are working long hours, speaking with Szoboszlai’s representatives, calculating budgets, preparing offers. The tension is thick. Every day that passes without an agreement feels dangerous. The thought of Real Madrid watching from afar only makes it worse. They know that one wrong step, one moment of hesitation, could cost them everything.

It’s strange how football works sometimes. A player who was signed quietly from RB Leipzig for £60 million just two years ago has now become the centre of one of Europe’s biggest transfer stories. The same player who walked into Anfield with calm confidence is now being spoken of as one of the club’s irreplaceable stars. His rise has been fast, but it’s been fully deserved. His performances have transformed Liverpool’s midfield, and his professionalism has earned respect from everyone around him.

Liverpool fans adore him because he plays with passion. He never hides. When the game gets tough, he steps up. When the team needs energy, he provides it. In every match, he carries himself like a leader. That’s why supporters are so desperate for the club to secure his future. They know losing Szoboszlai would not just be about losing talent — it would be losing belief, losing part of the new heartbeat of this team.

The comparison with Salah and Van Dijk’s contracts also highlights how times have changed. Those two legends earned their massive extensions after years of proving themselves. Szoboszlai, though still young, has already shown that he belongs in that same conversation. His influence in the dressing room is growing, and his connection with the fans is undeniable. The club must now reward that.

Real Madrid’s strategy is simple. They watch from a distance, waiting for signs of frustration or hesitation. They know that when a player feels underpaid or undervalued, it becomes easier to start a conversation. That’s why Liverpool must act fast. They can’t allow doubt to grow. They can’t let another team tell Szoboszlai that his worth is higher somewhere else.

Manchester City’s interest adds another layer of tension. Pep Guardiola’s side have a reputation for convincing top players to join their winning machine. If City and Madrid both come calling, Liverpool will have a battle on two fronts. But that’s what big clubs face in modern football — constant competition, constant threats, constant decisions that define the future.

Liverpool’s next move will say everything about their ambition. If they finalize the new deal quickly and reward Szoboszlai properly, it will send a message across Europe that Liverpool protects its own. But if they hesitate, even for a moment, Madrid’s shadow will grow larger.

For now, Liverpool fans can only wait and hope. They hope their club understands how important this player is, not just on the pitch but symbolically. They hope Szoboszlai sees that Anfield is the perfect place for his next chapter. And they hope this story ends not with another farewell, but with celebration — a new contract, a new promise, and a new era of belief.

In football, timing is everything. And right now, Liverpool’s timing must be perfect. One wrong move, and they risk losing a star who could define their next decade. One smart decision, and they could secure a future leader who carries the spirit of Anfield in every pass and every fight. The clock is ticking, Madrid is watching, and Liverpool are racing against fear itself.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s story is not just about wages or contracts. It’s about love, loyalty, and ambition. It’s about a club trying to hold on to its rising hero while giants wait to strike. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a 25-year-old Hungarian keeps playing his heart out, unaware that the whole of Europe is watching his every move, waiting to see what happens next.