Liverpool star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold will be arguably the most coveted name on the free agent waters next summer if the Reds aren’t able to tie him down to a new contract before then, and while it is difficult to envision TAA playing anywhere else, Real Madrid are hot on the fullback’s heels.
If anything, Madrid’s interest in the England international has only risen since the torn ACL suffered by club legend Dani Carvajal, who was, once again, the best player in that position last season as a La Liga, European Championship, and Champions League winner.
Alexander-Arnold has been one of Florentino Perez’s obsessions on the transfer market, and after securing his No. 1 dream target for free last summer in Kylian Mbappe, he’s love nothing more than to repeat the trick with Liverpool’s most valuable transfer asset.
According to a report from Real Madrid-based outlet Defensa Central, Liverpool have told the Merengues that they would like to receive an offer of at least 50 million euros in January in order to consider making a sale.
It’s hard to believe Liverpool would do this, though. Alexander-Arnold is an impending free agent, and, as we saw with the Leny Yoro transfer saga last summer and even the Alphonso Davies one, Real Madrid don’t spend money on players on expiring contracts.
Their philosophy is that a player who is the right fit for them will want to join Madrid for free, and, therefore, will be willing to run down their contract in order to play for them.
Real Madrid can’t compete in terms of spending with certain clubs anymore, so they have to play a different game on the transfer market. Paying 50 million euros for a player they could sign on a contract expiry just doesn’t fit that narrative, especially since Real rarely make winter signings and are already rumored to be bucking that trend in order to sign some immediate center back help.
Of course, you could argue that Real Madrid need right back help just as badly in 2025, because Carvajal’s injury has left Lucas Vazquez, who was torn to shreds by Barcelona, as the lone option in the position.
Still, it’s just as difficult to believe that Liverpool are dangling Alexander-Arnold as transfer bait to generate money when they are also pushing hard to make him feel valued and keep him on a long-term contract.
TAA is having another fine season at Anfield with an average of three tackles and two key passes per game, proving doubters wrong as the best right back in the Premier League with a fantastic combination of chance creation and, yes, defending.
