Real Madrid are believed to be ready to pay £20m to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu this month, according to reports.
The Liverpool full-back, who is out of contract at the end of the season, can now talk to other clubs about a pre-contract agreement, but the Premier League chiefs are understood to be adamant that their vice-captain will not be leaving the club in January.
Sky Sports previously said there had been no formal offer for the England defender, while Spanish media claimed the Liverpool academy graduate had informed the Merseyside club he wanted to join Real.
According to Paul Joyce of the Times , Real have made their “first official move” with contact made ahead of the New Year, seeking a “cut-price deal”.
Now, the Telegraph are reporting that Los Blancos are considering an official bid in the region of £20m.
Real Madrid’s move increases the pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold to confirm Liverpool’s intentions#TelegrafFootball | #LFC
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) January 1, 2025
Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool player whose contract expires in June. Both Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk are yet to agree new contracts, meaning all three could leave in the summer despite Arne Slott’s side on course to win the Premier League title.
Uncertainty surrounding the future of the influential trio has threatened to overshadow what has so far been a very impressive start for Slot in Liverpool. In addition to being high in the league, Sloto’s team have maintained a 100% record in Europe, and are in the last four of the Carabao Cup.
Speaking in December, Alexander-Arnold said no contract talks would be played out in public.
“I’ve been at the club for 20 years,” he said. “I’ve signed four or five contract extensions and none of them have been made public – and this one won’t be either.”
However, after scoring in Liverpool’s 5-0 win against West Ham on Saturday, the 26-year-old celebrated with a chirping hand gesture, seemingly amid intense speculation over his future.
Liverpool have FOUR!
Trent Alexander-Arnold hits from a distance and Max Kilman deflects the ball into the goal 💫 pic.twitter.com/D5jeJeYMhL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Asked about the celebration, Slott said: “No, I don’t think it’s negative at all. He plays very well, he scored a great goal, and the way he celebrated the goal probably tells you enough. I don’t think I need to say much more about it.
“I’m really happy with Trent, as I am with Mo [Salah] and Virgil. So it makes no difference to me.
“In terms of the outside world, maybe there’s a bit more stuff going on around Trent in the media than the other two, but right now I’m happy with all three.”
