Major development in Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga involving Liverpool and Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold's transfer saga has taken another turn just days after Liverpool's impressive victory over Real Madrid.

Liverpool beat the defending European champions 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday night to book their place in the next round of the Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold wasn't fit enough to start the match, with Conor Bradley replacing him in Arne Slot's starting line-up.

And the youngster excelled against Kylian Mbappe, containing the Frenchman for large periods of the game while also managing to get in a crunching challenge on him during the first half.

Despite Bradley's solid performance, Alexander-Arnold is expected to return to the starting line-up for Liverpool's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

That's after head coach Slot confirmed he would be fit enough to start this weekend.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to commit his long-term future to the Reds amid interest from Real Madrid.

The England international has kept tight-lipped about his future and frustrated fans on Friday, after Liverpool posted a video of the defender to their social accounts without an update on his contract negotiations.

The 26-year-old is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs including Madrid from the start of January.

And it now appears Madrid are pushing ahead in their attempts to sign the full-back.

talkSPORT report that Madrid have officially informed Liverpool they intend to sign Alexander-Arnold.

While the Spanish giants are not obliged to inform Liverpool of their intentions, sources close to the European champions say they want to be respectful to the Merseyside club.

Real Madrid are currently operating without their first choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, who suffered an ACL injury in October - and are keen to find a long-term replacement for the Spain international.

Alexander-Arnold is seen as the ideal choice and is also known to be close friends with Jude Bellingham, who was spotted swapping shirts with his England teammate after the midweek Champions League match at Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season (Image: Getty)

Liverpool are hopeful of convincing Alexander-Arnold to stay along with two other teammates, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are also out of contract at the end of the season.

Speaking last month after returning from international duty with England, Alexander-Arnold said he did not want to end his career with any regrets.

"This was a conversation I had last camp with (Eberechi) Eze when we're going to Ireland," Alexander-Arnold said.

"I was on the coach down to the airport and we had this conversation. I said, you know, that there's a chance I may never win another trophy in my career again. There's a chance of that. There's a chance I win many, many more.

"You'll only know the morning after you retire. You'll look yourself in the mirror, and you'll have a feeling of either regret or satisfaction of what you have achieved."

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