.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
Having joined the Liverpool academy at six years old, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a Red through and through, but the England international is nearing the conclusion of his time at Anfield.
The 26-year-old confirmed via a club statement on May 5 that he will be leaving Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Real Madrid have long been linked with the player and, while Alexander-Arnold did not immediately state where he will be playing next, it is widely anticipated that the Spanish giants will get their man on a free transfer.
The Sporting News brings you the latest on both the transfer speculation between Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid, as well as the contract negotiations between the right-back and his current club, as both are intrinsically linked.
MORE: Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Liverpool confirmed on May 5 that Alexander-Arnold will leave the club when his contract expires on June 30, 2025.
"I think first and foremost, I want to say it's not an easy decision and there's a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it," he said. "I've been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I've ever wanted to here.
"Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I've got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that."
It is now expected that the England star will sign for Real Madrid, although there is not yet any confirmation of an agreement.
The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on March 25 that Real Madrid were "working to close" a deal to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer after weeks of speculation. A January 5th report from the Mirror indicated a formal contract offer had been made by Liverpool to their defensive star, which would have matched Madrid's salary offer of £300,000 ($373,00) per week, or £78m ($98m) annually, but the Spanish giants were said to be prepared to add on a huge signing-on fee, similar to the £125m ($155m) given to Kylian Mbappe last summer.
That said, it is unlikely that wages and bonuses were at the heart of Alexander-Arnold's decision. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both signed contract extensions with Liverpool after similarly fevered speculation, but Alexander-Arnold always seemed more likely to leave given his younger age and his desire to experience a new challenge. Madrid have been on the look-out for a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal, who has missed almost all of the 2024/25 season with a serious knee injury, and Alexander-Arnold will know he will almost certainly be first choice if he moves to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alexander-Arnold's friendship with Madrid star Jude Bellingham is another reason why it was expected that he would move to Los Blancos if he left Liverpool.
MORE LIVERPOOL NEWS:
English (US)