Real Madrid were desperate to terminate player's contract to fund early Trent Alexander-Arnold arrival

Real Madrid reportedly offered to terminate a player’s contract in January to make way for Trent Alexander-Arnold and another Premier League star to join the club.

Real Madrid came into the 2024/25 campaign having captured a historic La Liga-Champions League double during the 2023/24 season.

However, this term things have not gone as planned, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side will finish the season without silverware. Los Blancos lost the Supercopa de España final against archrivals Barcelona as well as the Copa del Rey showpiece in April.

Last Thursday (May 15), Barca’s 2-0 win against Espanyol confirmed them as La Liga champions. Ancelotti, 65, is the first to move on and will soon take charge of the Brazil national team.

The likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe will stay but this summer could see huge changes at the Santiago Bernabeu as Xabi Alonso seems Ancelotti’s likely successor.

Real Madrid will end of the 2024/25 campaign without silverware (Credit:Getty)

It must be considered that Real sustained a defensive injury crisis with key men Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal suffering long-term injuries.

And in January, they even tried to part ways with defender David Alaba.

As reported by Spanish outlet SER, the hierarchy at the Bernabeu “offered David Alaba a contract buyout, paying him the remainder of the year in return, but the Austrian refused.

"The defender was facing the final weeks of his recovery from a knee injury and confirmed that he would remain at the club”.

Alaba's current deal is set to expire in June 2026.

This was in a bid to help fund a potential move for England right-back Kyle Walker, who eventually joined AC Milan on loan from Manchester City instead of making the switch to Real, or a winter arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Real Madrid offered David Alaba a pay-out (Credit:Getty)

Ancelotti reportedly asked for mid-season reinforcements but in a column for BBC Sport, Spanish journalist Guillem Balague reported that “behind closed doors, disagreements surfaced over physical preparation and discipline and Perez, always deeply involved, became more vocal in his frustration" alongside the rejection of winter transfers.

“From the directors' box came disdainful comments, on the lack of defensive work by the main stars, despite meetings between the manager and them to turn things around, and Ancelotti's management of emerging talents".

Looking ahead to the 2025/26 campaign, players will likely arrive at the club as they look to challenge Hansi Flick's Barcelona and regain the La Liga title.

Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen has already completed a move and penned a five-year deal at the club.