Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle 'actively pursuing' Real Madrid star as contract edges closer to expiry

Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle will reportedly all do battle to sign Real Madrid star Ferland Mendy this summer, according to reports.

The France international joined the Spanish giants from Lyon in 2019, and has been Real's first-choice left-back since displacing Marcelo in the side.

Injuries have affected Mendy in recent seasons - he played 40 league games combined in the previous two seasons - but he has been a regular fixture in Carlo Ancelotti's side this term.

The 28-year-old played the full 120 minutes on Wednesday as Real knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

But his future at the Bernabeu is uncertain, with Real reportedly eyeing a big-money move for Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies this summer.

Such a deal, if completed, may mean Mendy is surplus to requirements, especially as his contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 season.

And according to French outlet L'Equipe, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are all monitoring the left-back's situation ahead of the summer.

All three clubs have had issues in the position this season, with both Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas missing spells through injury.

Dan Burn has had a dip in form for Newcastle compared to last term, while Jakub Kiwior has settled into the role for Arsenal after the injury to Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko's struggles for form.

It is claimed that Mendy will reject any approaches from Newcastle, however, due to their extremely likely failure to qualify for next season's Champions League.

L'Equipe describe the Frenchman as a 'pillar of Real Madrid' and 'essential to its balance', meaning a move away may come as something of a surprise given his injury issues, at least for now, are in the rear view mirror.

But while Bayern have offered Davies a new contract, he is yet to extend a deal that expires next summer.

ESPN claim that Real are willing to pay €40 million to sign the Canadian this summer, but will wait until next year and acquire him on a free if necessary.

Therefore, Los Blancos may decide to sell Mendy this summer and play other players, including Eduardo Camavinga in that role next season before a swoop for Davies - similar to how they failed to sign a top-level striker to replace Karim Benzema last summer in anticipation of Kylian Mbappe's expected arrival from PSG.