Real Madrid 'abandon' Alexander-Arnold transfer

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 4 Dec 2024 11:13 GMT
• 4 min read

Real Madrid will ‘abandon’ their hopes of signing Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to reports.

The 26-year-old is due to become a free agent when his current deal at Anfield expires next June and despite talks of a contract extension, Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu for 2025.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are searching for a new right-back to eventually replace Dani Carvajal, who suffered an ACL injury, and they have identified Alexander-Arnold as their priority transfer target for 2025.

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Real Madrid have now informed Liverpool of their desire to sign Alexander-Arnold, according to talkSPORT.

Current ETV

Trent Alexander-Arnold

D (R)

Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold

D (R)

Liverpool

€27.3M

ETV Range

€20.5M - €34.2M

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And now TEAMtalk has reported that it won't be a move during the winter window, only a pre-contract agreement in which he moves in the summer.

What did David Ornstein say?

Meanwhile, the Athletic’s David Ornstein recently wrote: “The England international has shown firm loyalty to Liverpool and they are working hard to keep him, but so far there has been no breakthrough in talks.

“That has fuelled interest from elsewhere and Real Madrid’s admiration is well documented. Big decisions need to be made by all sides and the clock is ticking; from January 1, Alexander-Arnold can sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs from foreign leagues.”

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“Liverpool do not want to lose such a key figure but they will need to do what it takes to meet his wishes,” he added. “At the same time, suitors will try to entice him to leave. So it’s a live, ongoing situation that must be decided in 2025 or sooner. As things stand, we still lack a clear picture of the outcome.”

Reds legend Jamie Carragher told CBS Sports: “I think he [Alexander-Arnold] will get a lot more criticism (than Mohamed Salah) because when you’re a local player a lot more is thought of you. And I think that the feeling of the Liverpool supporters will worry him a little bit and I think he’ll end up signing.

“I think he will be very worried about the reaction if he didn’t sign and he left on a free to go to, say, Real Madrid.I think that when you are a local player you don’t want to lose the legacy that he’s already got.

“He’s been there since he was a boy, he’s 26 now and he’s won everything. You don’t want to lose that and I think he’ll sign.”