Fans in total disbelief after hearing how much Real Madrid are ready to spend on Trent Alexander-Arnold this month

Liverpool fans have been left surprised after hearing how much Real Madrid are reportedly willing to pay to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold this month.

The 26-year-old's contract at Anfield expires in June and his most likely destination now appears to the Bernabeu.

The Athletic reported on New Year's Eve that Real had submitted a bid to sign Alexander-Arnold in January.

Their starting right-back Daniel Carvajal will miss the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and there are said to be doubts among the Los Blancos hierarchy over whether 33-year-old Lucas Vazquez can provide adequate cover across the entire season.

Liverpool, however, provided an 'emphatic' response in rejecting Real's bid, according to The Times' Paul Joyce, with Alexander-Arnold now set to leave Anfield on a free if he does not agree to a new contract.

Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid update

Now, it has been revealed how much Real are willing to pay to bring the England international to the Bernabeu early.

Los Blancos have reportedly set around £20 million aside, as per The Times, to buy out the final six months of Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract and ensure that he can line up for the reigning Champions League holders for the second half of the season.

Such a fee would, of course, be far less than Liverpool would hope for if Alexander-Arnold was on a long contract at Anfield, but in that instance the Reds would not likely consider selling anyway.

However, the amount is substantial for a player in the final six months of his contract, given that Real could simply agree a pre-contract with the England defender right now.

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured (Image: Getty)

But Liverpool fans think it is not enough.

One wrote: "Us selling Trent for £20m is pretty much him leaving on a free."

A second said: "We're still keeping him... they can even pay £100m we won't release him."

A third wrote: "We have a title to win, I wouldn't sell Endo for £20m let alone Trent."

While a fourth claimed: "FSG won't give Slot any of the fee to spend on replacing Trent so what's the point of £20 million? Might as well keep him until the season finishes and hope he helps us to win some trophies - that will be worth much more than £20 million."