Michael Owen has dropped a significant update on the future of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold amid transfer interest from Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract expires in the summer and speculation has ramped up over his future in recent weeks.
But there was a significant update on New Year's Eve, with reports claiming that Liverpool had rejected an approach from Real Madrid to sign the 26-year-old in January.
Spanish media reported last week that Alexander-Arnold had already told Liverpool he was leaving the club to sign for Real, but the Liverpool Echo poured cold water over those claims.
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The Times report that Real were prepared to attempt to sign him in January, such is their desperation to sign a right-back following Daniel Carvajal's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury which will keep him out for the rest of this season and likely into next.
But Liverpool are said to have had an 'emphatic' response in rejecting that bid, with the two options now on the table either being that Alexander-Arnold leaves on a free transfer or - as now seems the less likely option - he agrees a new contract to stay at Anfield.
Now, Owen - who himself completed a direct transfer between Liverpool and Real in 2004 - has given his perspective on what the Spanish club's bid actually means from past experience.
Michael Owen on Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid
The former England star says he is convinced that Alexander-Arnold will have already made up his mind about his future.
He wrote on Twitter: "The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander-Arnold leads me to believe that it's only a matter of time before he signs for them.
"If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn't have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news."
Topics: Liverpool, Michael Owen, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Ryan Smart