Real Madrid stance on Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool contract talks need to begin

You often hear the cliché ‘he’s like a new signing’ when a long-term injury absentee returns to first team action. Does the same apply when an important player signs a contract extension?

Liverpool and FSG might need to find out, and fast. Supporters are growing increasingly disgruntled at the lack of transfer activity this summer. That might be one thing, but losing Trent Alexander-Arnold would detonate an explosion in the fanbase.

The right-back has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer. He is out of contract at the end of 2024/25, so this represents the Reds’ final opportunity to earn anything remotely approaching a fair fee for a generational talent if he is unwilling to extend his deal. However, it has been reported that the La Liga giant may have changed its stance, at least in the short term.

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The links with the biggest club in the world were inevitable. Alexander-Arnold is close friends with Jude Bellingham , a player who sums up the situation nicely; Liverpool wanted him, but Real are a bigger draw with deeper pockets. For Jude, potentially read Trent.

But wait. All is not lost, Kopites. The Daily Mail has reported that Madrid is “cooling” its interest in the 25-year-old. This despite it likely needing a right-back in the next year or so, with Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez both in the twilight of their careers, at least at that sky-high, ivory tower level.

The cynical among us will no doubt see through Madrid’s claim. Surely it is playing the long game. Why pay for a player you don’t urgently need when he will be available on a free transfer ahead of 2025/26? If Alexander-Arnold is of a mind to move, he will earn more money that way too.

This is a situation of Liverpool’s making, and it could get worse. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are, like Alexander-Arnold, in the final year of their present deals. The latter has gone so far as to admit that no talks have begun regarding an extension either .

But while Liverpool supporters won’t want either man to leave, they are veterans who were brought to the club. Alexander-Arnold is one of their own, and, despite everything he has achieved, yet to reach his peak. Real Madrid might be willing to wait until next summer but Richard Hughes and company absolutely cannot.

Liverpool.com says: This depressing saga will drag on until Alexander-Arnold signs on the dotted line with Liverpool. It's reasonable to assume he will but the sooner, the better.