Liverpool have rejected an approach from Real Madrid to sign right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to reports.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has been the subject of interest from Madrid for some time. The academy graduate’s contract is set to expire in June 2025, and he will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the transfer window opens on January 1, 2025.
The England international has been fairly tight-lipped regarding his future, but now an update has finally emerged.
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According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, Madrid “made contact” with Liverpool, but their interest in the player was “immediately rebuffed” by the Premier League club on Tuesday (December 31).
The report also suggests that Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold’s representatives have been in talks regarding a new deal for several months.
The Times claim that the conversation between Madrid and Liverpool did not reach the point at which numbers could be mentioned, with the Reds appearing to offer the La Liga outfit "little encouragement".
Of course, last Saturday, Spanish outlet Marca reported that the player had 'made a decision' with regards to his future. The publication explained how Alexander-Arnold had 'told Liverpool directors' that he wants to play for Real Madrid.
Since then, the England defender featured in Liverpool's 5-0 win against West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday. And despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, he scored his side's fourth of the game against the Hammers and employed an interesting celebration, when he raised his hand and made a talking gesture.
Fans even had a theory that this related to his England teammate and Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who used the celebration after scoring in the Three Lions' 1-0 win against Serbia at Euro 2024 last summer, but this could have been entirely coincidental.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been relatively blunt when answering questions on Alexander-Arnold's future. When pressed on his thoughts about Trent's celebration he claimed that the right-back was "playing really well".
"No, I don't think it [the celebration]'s negative at all," said Slot after Liverpool's win on Sunday.
"He's playing really well, scored a great goal and the way he celebrated his goal probably tells you enough. I don't think I have to say much more about it.
"I'm really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo [Salah] and with Virgil [van Dijk]. So for me, there's no difference. For the outside world, maybe there's a bit more things happening around Trent in the media than with the other two but I'm happy with all three of them at the moment."
Alexander-Arnold is part of a trio, including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, whose contracts are set to expire in June 2025.
Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Premier League, La Liga, Football
Luke Davies