Liverpool have received strong new reports that Real Madrid now hope to complete the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold during the summer at the latest and surprising new claims have emerged that his sale could be completed before the end of the window. of January.
The Reds vice-captain put in an uncharacteristically shaky performance on Sunday as Arne Slot’s side were given a difficult afternoon by Manchester United, who deservedly claimed a 2-2 draw at Anfield. That point, while far from disastrous in the grand scheme of things, allowed Liverpool to establish a six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League—and with a game in hand on nearest challengers Arsenal.
Alexander-Arnold had a torrid afternoon and the only surprise was that his replacement was saved until the 86th minute, when he was replaced by Connor Bradley.
The blame for his grim statement temporarily fell on Real Madrid, who had noted an initial offer to bring the player to the Bernabéu temporarily rejected through Liverpool. However, the manner in which the offer, estimated at €20m (£16. 6m, $20. 7m), was made is believed to have contributed to destabilizing the player, and Gary Neville has left in temporarily clear what your idea is. them. Training
Now that Real Madrid is preparing an improved offer, The Athletic correspondent, which specialises in covering the Spanish giants, has given an alarming glimpse of his high confidence in his ability to close a deal and the new claims that are likely to leave Liverpool reeling.
“It has been a very busy week at Real Madrid, with one call in particular: Trent Alexander-Arnold,” wrote Mario Cortegana.
“Sources familiar with the situation described the last few days as “crazy. ”
‘The fuse was lit on 31 December, when Real Madrid made an approach to Liverpool to ask if they would be open to negotiating the sale of the right-back in January.
‘His contract expires in June and he has not extended. The refusal from Anfield meant that no figures were even discussed in depth, despite some reports.’
Sources have told TEAMtalk that while there is great confidence in Alexander-Arnold moving to Real at the end of the season, the player is at this level to turn his back on the Reds at the end of the season. mid-season and especially when they are so determinedly in pursuit of wonderful honors.
However, revealing his confidence that a deal will be reached, this summer or potentially sooner, Cortegana continued: “Madrid are confident in signing Alexander-Arnold for the summer, but are looking to bring him forward until this window.
“If Liverpool wanted to reach an agreement now so that one of their biggest stars does not go loose in June, Madrid would be satisfied with agreeing a fair price.
‘Is there any chance they will push again for Alexander-Arnold this window?
“It is still clear, but the resources involved in the procedure preclude additional measures in the coming days and weeks.
“Arne Slot did not rule out the option of Alexander-Arnold leaving his press conference on Friday in January. “
While Slot has been cautious about his player’s long career, focusing on the qualities he brings to his Liverpool team, he appealed to enthusiasts to be lenient with the Liverpool star. 26 years after Real Madrid’s rise. rumors.
Furthermore, after Sunday’s draw, Slot is also willing to protect the player from further complaints after a difficult afternoon against United’s left-back.
“We were all disappointed, not just Trent, with the way we played. Firstly, with the result, and some parts of the game we could be satisfied with, other parts we weren’t entirely satisfied with.
“That was not only Trent, there were more things in the game that we could’ve done better.
“Trent didn’t play his best game, I said it already, but that’s not the first time in his life he didn’t play the best game of his career.
“He’s played so, so many games well for this club. Now it wasn’t his best, like for some others, it wasn’t their best as well.
“We’re going back to education and we start today because those players know that if you play 50/60 games in a season, every once in a while you’re not going to get your most productive performance.
“Maybe we’ll emphasize more how smart it is that those players can play such a smart game every three days. “
Meanwhile, Liverpool will block the departures of two wingers this month amid the development of Ben Doak and Federico Chiesa.
Per James Pearce, Slot is banking on Chiesa to become a big player for Liverpool over the second half of the season and is fully intent on blocking interest from a major Italian suitor who seemingly want to take him on loan.
The Athletic correspondent also uncovered Slotte’s plans for Doak after the player was targeted by both Ipswich and Crystal Palace.
Elsewhere, there is a major update on Mo Salah’s long-term with our move correspondent Rudy Galetti revealing that one country has been ruled out entirely and the Egyptian’s potential move options are reduced to just two clubs.
And finally, in Spain there have been big claims about Virgil van Dijk and how the player’s agents were rejected in their efforts to offer the player to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.