In a significant development, Liverpool Football Club has turned down an approach from Real Madrid regarding the transfer of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold during the upcoming January transfer window. The 26-year-old right-back is set to become a free agent this summer, allowing him to negotiate a pre-contract agreement starting January 1.
Currently, Alexander-Arnold’s contract at Anfield is set to expire in June, and sources have indicated to ESPN that he has emerged as a top defensive target for the Spanish giants, particularly following a long-term injury to their right-back, Dani Carvajal.
Initially, it was believed that Real Madrid intended to wait until next summer to secure Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer. However, they unexpectedly approached Liverpool on Tuesday to explore the possibility of a transfer as early as next month. According to ESPN's sources, Liverpool swiftly rejected these overtures, stating that no formal bid had been submitted.
Conversations regarding a potential contract renewal have been ongoing between Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold's representatives for several months. So far, the player has not expressed any desire to depart from the club where he has spent his entire career since joining as a six-year-old.
Alexander-Arnold is not the only player at Liverpool facing an uncertain future; he is one of three key figures whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. The other two include star forward Mohamed Salah and club captain Virgil van Dijk. According to reports from The Athletic, Real Madrid is becoming increasingly optimistic that Alexander-Arnold will agree to a pre-contract arrangement in January, as his current deal is due to expire in the summer. They have reportedly offered him a lucrative four-year contract along with a significant signing bonus.
Meanwhile, Paul Joyce from The Times has stated that Real Madrid made an offer to purchase Alexander-Arnold for the January window, which was decisively rejected by Liverpool, who currently sit at the top of the Premier League standings.
As it stands, all three players with expiring contracts will have the opportunity to officially negotiate with clubs outside of England once the transfer window opens on Wednesday.
Liverpool, under the management of Arne Slot, is enjoying a stellar season, sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table. They have also maintained a perfect record in the revamped Champions League and reached the semifinals of the Carabao Cup. Alexander-Arnold has been a crucial figure during the Jürgen Klopp era, having contributed to Liverpool’s Premier League title victory in the 2019-20 season and the Champions League triumph the year before. Should he decide to leave, it would be a poignant farewell from the club he has been a part of since childhood, particularly during such a successful season.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared his thoughts on social media platform X, stating: “The most important thing for @LFC in 2025 is winning the #PremierLeague. No one’s contract or future should come in the way of that! I love Trent as a lad & a player, but his team would’ve told Real Madrid to bid & also would’ve known LFC would turn it down. It’s to try & cover themselves when he leaves for free. Again it’s something the club/fans don’t need with a huge game coming up.”
Similarly, former Anfield striker Michael Owen, who made the switch from Liverpool to Real Madrid, commented on X: “The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander-Arnold leads me to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he signs for them. If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news.”
Zainab Y.
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