Real Madrid is reportedly making moves to sign Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Spanish club showing clear interest in the Reds’ full-back as his contract nears its expiration next summer.
According to talkSPORT, the La Liga giants have already informed Liverpool of their intentions to pursue Alexander-Arnold, in a bid to maintain respect for the Premier League club as his current deal winds down. This means Real Madrid could start negotiations for a pre-contract with the England international in the coming months.
The Spanish champions see Alexander-Arnold as a potential long-term successor to Dani Carvajal, who at 32 years old is still an integral part of the squad but is currently recovering from an ACL injury suffered last month. With the veteran right-back’s future uncertain, the club views Alexander-Arnold as the perfect player to take on that role for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool, however, is still hopeful of convincing their academy graduate to sign a new contract and stay at Anfield. Despite that, reports suggest Real Madrid is confident they can lure the 25-year-old to Spain, with one of their main advantages being Alexander-Arnold’s friendship with Real Madrid’s star player, Jude Bellingham. The two have forged a close bond during their time together in the England national team.
Since making his debut for Liverpool in 2016, Alexander-Arnold has become a key figure for the club, racking up over 325 appearances and playing a crucial role in winning major trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and two League Cups.
Currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month in a match against Aston Villa, Alexander-Arnold is expected to return to action against Manchester City this weekend.
Liverpool is also facing uncertainty with other key players, as both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. Salah, in particular, has recently expressed frustrations over his contract situation, claiming he has not yet received a new offer from the club.
With key players’ futures in the air, Alexander-Arnold’s potential move could be one of the most talked-about transfers of the upcoming summer window.