Liverpool Transfer News: Real Madrid tipped to move for Reds star
Real Madrid are being touted with significant interest in Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the 25-year-old yet to sign a new contract with the Reds.
Alexander-Arnold's current deal expires in the summer of 2025, meaning he has less than 18 months before he becomes a free agent.
However, Liverpool will be incredibly eager to tie the No.66 down to a new contract as quickly as possible, with Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes tasked with negotiating an extension.
Alexander-Arnold is not the only high-profile Liverpool star whose deal is running down, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both out of contract in 2025 as well.
Their contract situations are more complex than Alexander-Arnold's given their age profiles and Liverpool will be desperate to sort the right-back's deal out before the summer transfer window.
DO REAL MADRID WANT TO SIGN TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?
According to Spanish publication Relevo, Real Madrid are 'exhaustively monitoring' Alexander-Arnold's current situation, with Los Blancos keen to target players with just a year left on their deal this summer - or free agents in the case of Kylian Mbappe.
As a result, the 14-time European champions are keeping an increasingly close eye on the Englishman, who is yet to agree to a new contract with the Reds.
The report states that there has been no contact between Alexander-Arnold and Real, with the capital side showing 'interest' in the defender despite his significant connections to Liverpool as a club and city.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Alexander-Arnold, claiming that Liverpool have 'not indicated any desire to sell at this stage'.
Real are likely to be targeting right-backs this summer with Dani Carvajal now 32 and Lucas Vazquez an often unconvincing back-up option
However, the thought of Liverpool allowing Alexander-Arnold to leave or the local lad wanting to force an exit seems extremely unlikely, with the Reds simply holding off on contract negotiations until the situation regarding the club's sporting director became clearer.
Liverpool are likely to make Alexander-Arnold's contract extension a top priority in the coming months, with the Reds having been incredibly proactive in renewals in previous years.
Alexander-Arnold is currently sidelined with a knee injury and has been missing since early February, but the England international is likely to return shortly after the March international break.