Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold news gets doubly worse after Real Madrid stance emerges

With transfer news and contract extensions, it can be hard to know what to believe. When it comes to Trent Alexander-Arnold and the hotly rumored interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool supporters will be hoping it isn’t true.

But it has now been reported that two other top European clubs have also registered interest in signing the England international when his Reds contract expires next summer. It will be a relief when Alexander-Arnold’s future is confirmed one way or the other.

First we had The Athletic reporting that Real Madrid has made Trent its priority signing . Bad news. That was followed by contrasting claims that Alexander-Arnold’s preference is to remain with Liverpool . Good news. Now we have talkSPORT claiming that Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also hopeful of signing the Reds’ number 66.

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With respect to the Catalan club, it feels very unlikely that it will be signing Alexander-Arnold . Barcelona will always be a draw to players thanks to the history and prestige of the club, but the financial mess in which it finds itself means that signing a generational talent as he approaches the peak years of his career feels very unlikely. It’s not a project likely to entice a player of Trent’s calibre at this point.

Bayern Munich feels a touch likelier. It has already used four players at right-back across its six Bundesliga matches this term, so the position looks up for grabs. The future of Joshua Kimmich, one of the quartet, remains uncertain and he is currently the club’s fifth highest earner, per FBRef . If he were to leave, there would potentially be space for Alexander-Arnold both on the pitch and in the books.

But whatever news you choose to believe, it is Madrid that looms largest on the horizon. Dani Carvajal’s recently injury only poured further fuel on the fire. With Liverpool soon to face the holder of the Champions League in that competition at Anfield, the speculation will only continue to build as that game approaches.

Alexander-Arnold could sign a new deal with the Reds and quash that in an instant, of course. If talk of interest from other European giants is genuine, though, you couldn’t blame him for mulling over the options a little while longer. Buckle up, Liverpool fans. This story has probably got a while longer to run yet.

Liverpool.com says: If Real Madrid wants Alexander-Arnold and he wants to leave Liverpool, it's impossible to see him ending up anywhere else. Barcelona and Bayern Munich aren't bad options to have though, are they?