According to The Athletic, Real Madrid approached Liverpool to discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold in December but their first bid was rejected. However, with the England defender's contract at The Kop set to expire at the end of June and negotiations over a new deal stalling, Los Blancos are likely to sign the 26-year-old in the summer.
President Florentino Perez is known for snapping up the world’s top stars, especially when their contracts are about to expire. This helps the team save on transfer fees or at least significantly reduce costs, although sometimes it means paying huge signing bonuses. Mbappe, for example, received a new contract worth €100 million on top of his salary.
At 26, Alexander-Arnold would bring freshness to a defence in need of rejuvenation. Dani Carvajal's long-term injury has accelerated the search for a replacement, with the Liverpool defender seen as the frontrunner to take on the role.
In addition, Alexander-Arnold's arrival would be a significant addition to Real Madrid's defence, which has lacked major investment since 2019. With his versatile playing ability, the "Three Lions" player is not only an excellent right-back but can also take on a midfield role, similar to how Gareth Southgate used him for England.
Last season, Alexander-Arnold also took on the main playmaking role at Liverpool, often moving into the middle of the pitch to dictate play from the centre, something Real Madrid desperately needed following the departure of Toni Kroos.
The 1998-born star's accurate long-passing ability helps him quickly turn a normal ball into a dangerous opportunity, creating conditions for strikers like Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo to take full advantage.
Statistics show that Trent Alexander-Arnold was the only player in Europe’s top leagues last season to complete more passes of 30 metres per game than Kroos. While his accuracy may not be perfect, the speed and versatility of his passing is something Real Madrid believe can be improved over time.
Not only is Alexander-Arnold a standout attacker, he has also been praised for his defensive improvements under Arne Slot at Liverpool. The Dutchman's well-organised style of play has helped the 26-year-old defender find better positioning and develop his one-on-one defending, a weakness that has been widely criticised.
At Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold will need to adapt to a more complex role. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he may have to defend in a 4-4-2 while also playing from midfield. However, Los Blancos are confident in Alexander-Arnold's ability to adapt, especially given their success in switching positions with other players in the past.
Real Madrid's current defence includes veteran players like Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, but both are getting older and struggling to maintain their peak form. Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold is not only a long-term replacement but also a strategic step to strengthen the Galacticos 3.0 squad in the future.
