Liverpool responds to 'incorrect' Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid transfer claim

Liverpool has rejected a claim by a Spanish media outlet over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. The right-back is into the final nine months of his current deal, and Marca reported this week that the Reds have virtually given up hope of keeping him.

However, The Times reports that Liverpool has clarified that that is not the case. Slot, meanwhile, said on Friday that he does not believe any of Liverpool's star players will be distracted by speculation surrounding their futures at the club .

Alexander-Arnold isn't the only player who could end up leaving Liverpool for free at the end of the season. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all also into the final year of their deals at Anfield, and as things stand will be able to negotiate moves with foreign clubs from January onwards.

• Liverpool manager Arne Slot addresses Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer speculation
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“These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis,” Slot said. “If they have contracts or not. If you think they’re disturbed by these interests, then I think you don’t do justice to how strong they are mentally and what they are used to. This is part of our job.

“I was at Feyenoord last year and they linked me with many clubs and before that and before that. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do. Maybe if you’re 17 or 18 years of age, that could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League.

“Virgil and Mo the same. I don’t think that is a problem for them to perform. That’s also what we see at the moment because they’re playing really well, put it that way.”

Madrid's need for a new right-back intensified earlier this month when Dani Carvajal suffered a season-ending knee injury but Carlo Ancelotti said that he does not anticipate Madrid dipping into the transfer market in January.

It was reported by Spanish outlet Sport earlier this month that Madrid could look to reach an agreement for Alexander-Arnold during the winter transfer window after the injury to Carvajal. Speaking on the Walk On podcast, however, Liverpool expert James Pearce described that claim as "absolute nonsense", and Ancelotti's comments tally with Pearce's verdict.

Ancelotti said: “We have Lucas Vazquez, we trust him. Then there’s Eder Militao. I see him well as a right back, yes. I have not asked for new signings in January as last year we managed the situation well. Signing a player who will be good for Real Madrid is not easy. At the moment we are not thinking about it (signing a player in January).”