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Topics: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Champions League, Football, AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, Florentino Perez
Ryan Smart
Topics: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Champions League, Football, AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, Florentino Perez
Real Madrid have reportedly made an 'urgent' transfer decision under 24 hours after their shock 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti's side suffered their second loss in this season's group stage, having been defeated 1-0 by Lille in France on matchweek two.
Los Blancos twice went behind against the seven-time European champions, with Vinicius Junior's first half equaliser not enough to get anything out of the game.
And Real's defence came under heavy scrutiny again after they conceded four goals at home to Barcelona in El Clasico last month.
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Now, it has been reported that Real president Florentino Perez is prepared to sanction something he rarely does - transfer spending in the January window.
Marca report that Perez wants to sign a right-back 'urgently' amid the absence of Daniel Carvajal due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Carvajal will miss the rest of the season through injury, with Lucas Vazquez the only senior player who can fill in at right-back.
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Real have experimented with playing centre-back Eder Militao in the position, though coaching staff are said to be 'not convinced' with the results.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Jesus Fortea is seen as a star of the future, but Real are said to not want to push him into the first team too early - hence the search for a new right-back.
And the right-back of choice is Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires in the summer of 2025.
The England star can open talks with Real over a pre-contract arrangement which would see him move to the Bernabeu next summer on a free transfer.
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A move in January is also an option for a potentially cut-price fee - but Liverpool are said to have no intention to sell the 25-year-old and still hope to keep him at Anfield.
Speaking last month, The Athletic's James Pearce told the 'Walk On' podcast: "There's absolutely zero chance that Trent will go anywhere in January.
"I saw some nonsense about Real Madrid planning a bid for him in January. I don't believe that's true, absolute nonsense. Those [contract] talks are still ongoing."
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Marca's report also acknowledges Liverpool's lack of need to sell any of Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk ahead of their contracts expiring, and that 'the operation does not seem to be straightforward' in terms of signing Alexander-Arnold especially.