Like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Alexander-Arnold’s current deal with Liverpool is due to expire at the end of June and his future has been the subject of much speculation. Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the Liverpool vice-captain and their interest has increased after Dani Carvajal suffered a serious knee injury.
Real want to sign a right-back in the January transfer window, with Lucas Vasquez their only senior option in the position at present. Alexander-Arnold tops their shortlist ahead of Tottenham star Pedro Porro, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Sevilla's 21-year-old Spain youth international Juanlu.
The presence of Alexander-Arnold’s close friend Jude Bellingham in Madrid could be helpful for Los Blancos as they try to lure him. And now Marca report that Liverpool ‘already know’ Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new contract.
If that is the case then Liverpool will have a big decision to make in the January transfer window. They could decide to sell him mid-season, or lose him for nothing in the summer when his contract expires.
The Reds have taken a very relaxed approach to the situation around their three star players, Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold. Arne Slot has dead-batted questions around their futures and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes summed up the club’s position in July.
“Contractual situations, I don’t think it would be fair for me to talk about,” he said. “These are private matters between club and players. The only concern I have, that Arne has, about those situations and everyone else in the squad is that there is total commitment from the players to the cause for next season – and we are absolutely convinced that is the case.”
Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has remained coy when discussing his long-term future. "I have always said I want to captain the club, that is an aim of mine and a goal of mine, (but) whether that happens is out of my hands," he said in September.
"Look, I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public. And this one won't be either. I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say.
"The most important thing is always trophies, if I am honest. "I want to win trophies, I am a player who is highly motivated by trophies and winning things and being elite. So that is probably the main factor of anything, if you have a personality that is elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win, then that is what drives me."
