Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid transfer Questions and answers: ‘Trent is in a strong negotiating position’ | Football news

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Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy brings you an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future, answering all the key questions.

The saga took another twist on New Year’s Eve when Liverpool rejected Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold.

There was no formal offer, but an approach was made by the Spanish side.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season and reports in Spain say the 26-year-old has informed Liverpool he wants to play for Madrid.

Reddy, who interviewed Alexander-Arnold in Decemberexplains what this latest development means…

What does this latest development tell us about where both clubs and players stand ahead of the summer?

Melissa says: For Real Madrid, it shows us unequivocally that Alexander-Arnold is their top transfer target for the summer, so much so that they don’t want to wait until then and would be willing to pay more than £20m to get him right – back before his free agency.

They wouldn’t have approached Liverpool to bring him in this window if it weren’t for the encouragement from the players – but it’s important to stress that this doesn’t mean Alexander-Arnold wants to leave Liverpool this month. He is in the middle of negotiations, and it is in his favor that Real show their hand, that Liverpool fights for him, that his childhood club knows Real’s intentions and offers him a valuable offer.

He is in an incredibly strong position in terms of negotiations.

Liverpool will never accept the departure of Alexander-Arnold this month given their league and Champions League ambitions. They haven’t conceded defeat by keeping him and signing him to a new contract – and they won’t until he says he wants to go to Madrid. It has not been said so far.

Alexander-Arnold can now hold official talks with Real Madrid. Does it change anything?

Melissa says: It doesn’t change too much in the sense that informal conversations happen all the time in modern transfers and each party will already know the parameters for reaching an agreement over the line. What is affecting is how loud, open and forceful Real can now be in their pursuit of Trent, which will not be comfortable for Liverpool or their fans. Get ready for overdrive – especially from the newspapers in Madrid.

Is there a danger that this Trent situation could destabilize Liverpool’s title?

Melissa says: The contract situation – especially with Real who are willing to push in their aggressive, charming-offensive way – is an unpleasant cloud hanging over the mighty Liverpool, but I don’t think it will put them off their minds because of the professionalism of the players and their relationship with Arne Slott, who is very strong – I interviewed Trent two weeks ago and he said how much he enjoys the level of detail that Slot provides and the changes to his game.

The ambition to win silverware this season will have an advantage for all of them.

We’ve seen Real Madrid make moves, can you see other clubs making moves for Liverpool’s other out-of-contract players Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah this month?

Melissa says: We are talking about the world’s most in-form player Mohamed Salah and the best centre-back Virgil van Dijk so it would be a surprise if no elite side tries to lure them.

But I think both have made it so clear that they want to stay at Anfield and the market is so tight that clubs that could otherwise afford them and allow them to compete at the highest level don’t currently have the financial muscle to sell them a replacement to Liverpool.

Both players enter the starting line-up of every top team, regardless of who is stationed at their position – it’s not about their talent, it’s just about the state of the market forces.