Carlo Ancelotti kept his cards close to his chest when asked about Real Madrid's attempts to sign Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
After months of speculation, Real began their quest to sign the right-back by offering £20 million on the first day of the January transfer window. Liverpool immediately rejected the offer and are determined to keep hold of Alexander-Arnold, who they hope will sign a new contract.
His current contract expires at the end of June, meaning he could talk to Real about a move this month, as well as a free transfer in the summer. But with Real able to double his wages to around £400,000 a week, there is a temptation for Alexander-Arnold to leave his boyhood club mid-season.
Real are without Dani Carvajal, who suffered a serious knee injury earlier this season, and can therefore offer Alexander-Arnold a starting place. The back and forth between Liverpool, the Spanish giants and the 26-year-old's representatives continues in the background, but Ancelotti will not risk jeopardizing a potential move by speaking about it publicly.
“January signings? It's a little more complicated to talk about this. We'll see, we'll see. Talking about this is not easy at the moment,” he said at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Real's La Liga match against Valencia on Friday evening.
Asked again about transfers, Ancelotti added: “I said we won't sign anyone before in January. Look, I can't talk about it now. This is not the time and place. We'll see what will happen, but I a great team. We have injuries and problems with them, but we can overcome them too.
Alexander-Arnold is currently in the same boat as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose contracts also expire in the summer. However, Liverpool are confident that both Salah and Van Dijk will sign two-year contract extensions in the coming weeks.
All three have remained professional and focused on performing amid speculation about their futures. Liverpool have suffered no ill effects and are top of the Premier League and Champions League after a brilliant start to the season.
Speaking in October, Alexander-Arnold stated that he wants to win the Ballon d'Or and be considered the best right-back to ever play the game. When asked how he would like to be seen in twenty years, he replied: “A football legend. Someone who changed the game – that's the most important thing I have: 'don't play the game, change the game'.
“So that's the legacy I want to have: to be the best right-back to ever play football, if I'm honest. I know there have been so many, but I have to reach for the stars and that's where I believe my ceiling can go.
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