Real Madrid make offer to Liverpool to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in JANUARY… but Reds reject approach despite risk of losing out-of-contract star for free in the summer
Liverpool have rejected an attempt by Real Madrid to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in January.
The 26-year-old full-back is out of contract this summer and Mail Sport reported last weekend that the Spanish champions are confident they can tempt him to join them.
But with veteran right-back Dani Carvajal injured, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have made a bid to sign Alexander-Arnold now. It was a club-to-club approach rather than a formal or monetary offer.
Liverpool quickly rejected that approach.
The Premier League leaders have been in talks with Alexander-Arnold and his camp and are looking to extend his contract, as well as the deals of Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk.
Alexander-Arnold has a big decision to make about his future, but so far Liverpool have given no indication he wants to leave.
Liverpool have rejected a bid from Real Madrid for right back Trent Alexander-Arnold
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to sign a new right-back to strengthen his injury-hit squad
It is expected that Real Madrid right back Dani Carvajal will not play again this season
Despite being only 26, Alexander-Arnold is one of Liverpool’s most experienced players.
The local boy, who has been on the books at Anfield for 20 years after joining the club at the age of six, is currently 10th on the list of Liverpool players with the most Premier League appearances (243).
Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut in 2016 and has since made 333 appearances in all competitions.
He has won eight trophies with the Reds, including the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup.
In addition to winning the Champions League in 2019, Alexander-Arnold was a losing finalist against Real Madrid twice: in 2018 and again in 2022.
He is well on his way to cementing legendary status at Liverpool and is the subject of a giant mural on the corner of Anfield Road, where his image is accompanied by the quote: ‘I’m just a normal boy from Liverpool whose dream came true . WHERE.’
In a recent interview with Men in Blazers, Alexander-Arnold was asked what his dreams looked like now. He replied: ‘Of course, win more trophies. But on a personal level, it builds a legacy. That’s something that’s important.’
When asked what he meant by that, he clarified: “It’s only talked about with the highest regard, especially after you’re done [playing]. If in ten or fifteen years’ time I’m being talked about as one of the best right-backs or the best right-back, then that’s what I’m playing for now and using it as motivation.”
Alexander-Arnold pictured (left) in action against Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final
Boss Arne Slot, pictured during Liverpool’s 5-0 win over West Ham, is keen to keep his star man
But Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is known for being very persuasive when he wants to be
Local boy Alexander-Arnold is the subject of a giant mural near Liverpool’s Anfield stadium
Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool star with just six months left on his current contract. Centre-back and captain Van Dijk is in the same position, as is frontman Salah.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot recently admitted he personally has no power to ensure the trio stays in place.
Slot explains: ‘I think I have a lot of control over what they do. When they are on a training pitch, when they are talking to me but talking about their private lives, I have no control over them. So that was the situation I had a year ago.
‘That will be the case for as long as I am manager, but I have control over them to a certain extent based on what I expect from them on the pitch. And I’m really excited to see what Virgil brings, what Trent brings and what Mo brings.
Ahead of the opening of the January transfer window, Slot continued: “The positive thing for me is that for four or five months you were only talking about Trent, Mo and Virgil. And I assume – and please don’t let me down now – that people will now start talking about how we go for a player and who we are going to bring in in the next month and which other player is going to leave.
‘So I also get some other questions. Not just about this one [three].’