Premier League leaders Liverpool have rejected Real Madrid’s approach to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in the January transfer window, according to reports in England.
The Guardian Sport in particular has claimed that Real’s first approach for Alexander-Arnold this January has been turned down before the Spanish giants could offer any financial package to buy out the remainder of the defender’s contract.
The Englishman’s contract at Liverpool comes to an end at the end of the season and is free to enter into pre contract discussions with any club. Real Madrid has been the touted destination for Alexander-Arnold for some seasons and the England international is seen by Real as immediate replacement for veteran right-back Dani Carvajal, 32, who is set to miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Liverpool, who has been re-ignited by new boss Arne Slot, are not willing to lose Alexander-Arnold, one of their top stars, in bid to boost the club’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
Despite Liverpool’s interest the keep Alexander-Arnold, the right-back, according to Sky Sports and Guardian Sport though with little emphasis not as emphatic as the report in Sky Sports, wants to move to Real Madrid but Sky Sports did specified this January or in the summer.
Real can now freely speak to Alexander-Arnold directly about a pre-contract.
The Guardian Sport has reported that Liverpool continue to be in negotiation with Alexander-Arnold’s advisers and family, for a potential contract renewal.
Liverpool are also in discussions with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose contracts also end after this season, for contract renewal deals. Alexander-Arnold, Salah and van Dijk were the main manufacturers of the club’s enviable glories under former boss Jurgen Klopp.
Premier League leaders face finance, sustainability, profitability and wage structure issues if they want to keep all three prominent members of Slot squad, according to The Guardian.
But Alexander-Arnold’s sale could offer a gateway for Liverpool the get money.
“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,” Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports in December.
Selling Alexander-Arnold in January would give Liverpool some funds as it represents “pure profit” for a former youth-team player but that avenue has been rebuffed.
