Real Madrid are believed to be willing 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, is now allowed to talk to other clubs about a pre-contract agreement, but the Premier League leaders are understood to be adamant their vice-captain will not do so. Leaving the club in January.
Sky Sports previously said that no official offer had been made for the English defender, while Spanish media claimed that the Liverpool academy graduate had informed the Merseyside club of his desire to join Real Madrid.
According to Paul Joyce in The Times, Real Madrid made their first official move with a call made on New Year's Eve, seeking a 'cut-price deal'.
Now, The Telegraph reports that Los Blancos are considering a formal £20m bid.
Real Madrid's move increases pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold to confirm Liverpool's intentions#FootballTelegraph | #Liverpool
— 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 deals, meaning all three could leave in the summer even though Arne Sloat's side are on course to win the Premier League title.
Uncertainty over the future of the influential trio has threatened to overshadow what has so far been a very impressive start for Slot at Liverpool. In addition to flying high in the league, Slot's team maintained a 100% record in Europe, reaching the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Speaking last December, Alexander-Arnold said any contract negotiations would not take place 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 announced publicly, and this won't be announced either.”
However, after scoring in Liverpool's 5-0 win over West Ham on Saturday, the 26-year-old celebrated with a peep with his hand, in an apparent reference to the intense speculation over his future.
Liverpool have four!
Trent Alexander-Arnold shot it from a long distance and it collided with Max Kilman inside 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's playing really well, he scored a great goal, and the way he celebrated his goal probably tells you enough. I don't think I have to say much about that.
“I'm really happy with Trent, just like I'm happy with Mohamed Salah and Virgil. So for me, there's no difference.
“To the outside world, there are probably a little more things going on about Trent in the media than the other two, but I'm happy with all of them at the moment.”
