Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly interested in a potential summer transfer to Real Madrid when his current contract expires.
Alexander-Arnold is in the final season of his Liverpool deal and his future is becoming increasingly uncertain as the possibility of negotiating a pre-contract with an overseas club nears.
An agreement over a new contract to remain at Liverpool hasn’t been forthcoming and Madrid’s desire for a new right-back, in addition to their overall prestige and the success of close friend Jude Bellingham since moving to the Spanish capital, has only intensified speculation surrounding his move.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also recently expressed concern over Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid because of the player’s open desire to win the Ballon d’Or.
Now, Spanish publication AS writes that Alexander-Arnold and his agent are both aware of Madrid’s interest and consider the prospect of such a move appealing, although no final decision with regard to moving on from Liverpool has yet been made.
The intimation is that the European champions even have an arrangement whereby they will be informed if others start to bring competition.
It is not Madrid’s intention to recruit anyone during the upcoming January transfer window, with the goal to secure Alexander-Arnold’s signature without a transfer fee in time for next season.
But if the England international decides to sign fresh terms with Liverpool, Madrid are believed to have alternative targets. Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro is one and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is another.
But the substantial downside to going after either of those is that Porro would likely cost at least €45m (£37.8m) and Frimpong even more at €50m (£42m).
Long-serving right-back Dani Carvajal won’t play again this season and will likely miss the start of 2025/26 as well. His contract was renewed for an extra year as soon as he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament last month, but the six-time Champions League winner will be almost 34 by the time he recovers. Current stand-in Lucas Vazquez, who isn’t even a natural right-back, is 33.
