Trent Alexander-Arnold is planning to see out the season at Liverpool with Real Madrid viewing a January transfer as ‘practically impossible’, according to reports in Spain.
The 26-year-old’s contract with Liverpool is due to expire at the end of the season, meaning that he will be able to leave Anfield as a free agent.
Real Madrid have made Alexander-Arnold one of their priority transfer targets and following the injury to Dani Carvajal, who is set to miss the rest of the season, the Spanish champions are looking to sign cover at right-back in the January transfer window.
Relevo reports that Madrid are not ruling out an attempt to sign Alexander-Arnold in January, however, the club are not confident in their chances of luring the England international away from Anfield before the season has finished.
The report claims that Alexander-Arnold wants to leave Liverpool ‘in the best possible way’, which ideally means winning at least one trophy under Arne Slot this term and not halfway through the campaign.
Alexander-Arnold’s stance is said to have made Madrid’s plans ‘very complicated’ as they are reluctant to sign a right-sided defender in the knowledge that the 26-year-old will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
Madrid are currently playing Lucas Vazquez, who is traditionally an attacking winger, at right-back in Carvajal’s absence.
However, Carlo Ancelotti now faces a dilemma as Vazquez suffered a hip injury in Madrid’s 4-0 win against Osasuna last Saturday.
Madrid initially thought that Vazquez would be ruled out until December but the club’s medical staff are understood to be hopeful that he will be available for their Champions League tie against Liverpool at Anfield on November 27.
Alexander-Arnold is also a doubt for that game after he was forced off with a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend.
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