Real Madrid drop huge hint on Trent Arnold transfer but need 2 things to happen

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is edging towards a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid and he could potentially play for the club before his Reds deal expires

Real Madrid and the club's president Florentino Perez are 'counting on' Trent Alexander-Arnold being available for this summer’s Club World Cup but need the help of Liverpool and LaLiga to make it happen. The Spanish side are closing in on a move for the England defender.

They are set to sign him on a free transfer at the end of his contract, with reports claiming he will put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu. As it stands, he will officially join Real after June 30 once his Reds deal officially expires.

But the Spanish side are attempting to sign him even earlier than that. According to Mail Online, Real are exploring the possibility of bringing forward his transfer in order to allow Alexander-Arnold to play at the Club World Cup set to take place in the USA this summer.

Real kick off their tournament against Saudi side Al-Hilal on June 18, meaning Alexander-Arnold would still be a Liverpool player. As a result, they need the Merseysiders to release the England man from his contract early.

The Reds would of course save a month of his wages but would be entitled to some sort of compensation payment from Real should they agree to the arrangement. Clubs playing at the Club World Cup are currently able to re-jig their squads during a ‘restricted in-competition period’ from June 27 to July 3.

But due to those dates falling outside of both the La Liga and Premier League transfer windows, they would need permission from both leagues, as well as Liverpool regarding an early release from his deal at Anfield. But Real are 'confident' of making that happen - but must get approval from La Liga and Liverpool to do so.

“The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players' participation,” read a FIFA statement last October about club’s ability to alter their squads.

Will Alexander-Arnold be a success with Real Madrid? Share your thoughts in the comments below

And while Real are aiming to secure Alexander-Arnold’s signature early, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed that he has no worries about his commitment for now. Speaking in January after reports of a £20m bid from Madrid, the Dutchman said: “I speak to every player, and for Trent, it’s the same.

“So yes, I have spoken to him. But do you really think I’ll tell you what I said? These conversations are private, and I’ve never shared them before.”

“If transfer talk disrupted players at this club, we would have a serious problem,” he added. “Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world —there is always speculation, 12 months a year, about our players. If that destabilised them, it wouldn’t just be a problem now but for the past six months as well.”