Real Madrid ‘make contact’ with Liverpool for Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer talks

Real Madrid have informed Liverpool that they intend to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer next summer.

Alexander-Arnold, 26, is close to entering the final six months of his Liverpool contract and will be allowed to sign a pre-contract deal with a club abroad from January 1. Long-time admirers, Real Madrid view the England international as the ideal successor to Dani Carvajal at right-back.

Liverpool are still hoping to extend Alexander-Arnold's stay as the defender has been at the club since he was six. His current contract, along with teammates Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, expires on June 30.

TalkSPORT claim that Madrid bosses have now directly told Liverpool's hierarchy that they intend to sign Alexander-Arnold. Although the reigning Spanish and European champions are not required to formally register their interest with Liverpool, they want to be respectful.

Alexander-Arnold watched from the bench on Wednesday as Liverpool beat Real 2-0 in the Champions League, fresh from an ankle injury. Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is currently without long-serving Carvajal after the 32-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament in October.

There is real hope that having compatriot Jude Bellingham in their ranks can convince Alexander-Arnold to make the move to Spain. Liverpool were closely linked with signing Bellingham in 2023, before the midfielder decided to join Madrid from Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has remained coy about the situation of Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah all season, but everything could change once the January transfer window opens and the players are free to sign pre-contract deals with new clubs. Slot said last month: “For me it's not something I wonder about.

“When I think after the last game of the season: are they here or not? But my focus now is mainly on the short term and I think that in football it is mainly about the short term.” especially if you are a manager.”

The trio's future was put back into the spotlight after Salah revealed last week that he has not yet been offered a contract. After scoring a brace in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton, the Egyptian winger told reporters: “We're almost into December and I haven't received any offers to stay at the club yet. I'm probably out more than inside. “