Real Madrid could renew its efforts Sign Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will reportedly be signed in January but will be happy to wait until the summer if the Premier League leaders reject the sale.
Alexander-Arnold is among a handful of big names heading into free agency and the timing seems perfect for Madrid as 32-year-old Dani Carvajal enters the final stretch of his illustrious career.
The athlete writes that Madrid are “confident” of signing Alexander-Arnold in the summer, but a move in January could help smooth their path to winning a record 16th Champions League.
Liverpool have already rebuffed an attempt by Madrid to sign Alexander-Arnold this month, with the Reds pushed back so quickly that there wasn’t even a detailed discussion about a possible transfer fee.
If Liverpool would agree to let Alexander-Arnold leave mid-season to ensure they at least collect a transfer fee, then it is said that Madrid would be happy to “agree a fair price” in January. How high this number could be according to the European champions is not disclosed.
Sooner or later, the need for Alexander-Arnold seems to be greater than the desire to avoid paying a transfer fee for him. With Carvajal out until the summer, Madrid are missing a senior right-back alongside experienced winger Lucas Vazquez.
Strengthening in that position is seen as more important than recruitment at centre-back, where the squad has also been plagued by injuries, and the added quality of Alexander-Arnold is seen as a potential game-changer in Europe.
Alexander-Arnold expressed his dream earlier this season of becoming the first full-back to win the Ballon d’Or, which would be more possible as a Real Madrid player. He also counts current Bernabeu star and compatriot Jude Bellingham among his closest friends in football.