Real Madrid are in negotiations to finalize the signing of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer this summer.
The Spanish giants are working to secure the England international ahead of the next season, with discussions progressing towards a conclusion.
According to BBC Sport, sources say that while an agreement has yet to be fully reached, significant strides have been made to complete the transfer. However, no official contract has been signed at this stage.
With just three months remaining on his Liverpool contract, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate a move abroad. Real Madrid have made the 26-year-old a top priority for the summer, with sources revealing that the club has been monitoring him for nearly two years.
Having spent his entire career at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold has risen through the ranks, making over 300 appearances for Liverpool. The full-back has won every major trophy with the club and currently serves as vice-captain.
Joining Liverpool at the age of six, he progressed through the academy before making his first-team debut under Jurgen Klopp in October 2016. Over the years, he has been instrumental in the club’s success, playing a key role in winning the Premier League, Champions League, and Club World Cup between 2019 and 2020.
In the summer of 2021, Alexander-Arnold signed a four-year contract extension and played a crucial role in Liverpool’s FA Cup and League Cup triumphs during the 2021-22 season, scoring penalties in both finals.
His consistent performances earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Season for the third time, and in July 2023, he was appointed Liverpool’s vice-captain.
At the time, Alexander-Arnold openly expressed his ambition to captain Liverpool, stating: “I’ve never been shy of saying what my ambitions are, and that has always been to captain this club. This is a pathway and a stepping stone to that.”
By 2024, however, with only a year left on his contract and no signs of a renewal, tensions between Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool supporters began to grow.
His comments in an October interview with Sky Sports, where he stated he would prefer to win a Ballon d’Or over another Champions League with Liverpool, frustrated some fans, who perceived him as prioritizing personal accolades over the club’s success.
Further speculation arose in December when Alexander-Arnold celebrated a goal against West Ham with a ‘chat’ gesture, referencing the ongoing rumors about his future. His reluctance to publicly clarify his intentions has only fueled uncertainty about his commitment to Liverpool.
In January, reports surfaced that Real Madrid had submitted an offer for the right-back, coinciding with a challenging performance against Manchester United, which led to criticism from sections of Liverpool’s fanbase.
Despite his contributions in keeping Liverpool in the Premier League title race, the uncertainty surrounding his future remains. With his departure to Madrid looking increasingly likely, it remains to be seen how fans will react to his potential exit from his boyhood club without a transfer fee.
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