Jamie Carragher says Trent Arnold told Real Madrid to launch Liverpool bid

Jamie Carragher reckons Trent Alexander-Arnold and his team encouraged Real Madrid to try and sign him in January to "cover themselves" for when he leaves on a free transfer.

The Spanish giants are long-term admirers of the Liverpool right-back, 26, who is out of contract at the end of the season. And while it has been speculated that Real will try to snare Alexander-Arnold for nothing next summer, it emerged on Tuesday that they had launched an ambitious attempt to sign him sooner.

Liverpool immediately rebuffed said offer and remain locked in talks with their vice-captain over a new contract which would see him stay at Anfield.

But some, including Carragher, are convinced the Reds are fighting a losing battle. And he has hit out at the timing of the bid - which he claims the player and his team would have endorsed - with a huge game against arch-rivals Manchester United just days away.

In a post on X, Carragher wrote: "The most important thing for @LFC in 2025 is winning the #PremierLeague No one’s contract or future should come in the way of that! I love Trent as a lad & a player, but his team would’ve told Real Madrid to bid & also would’ve known LFC would turn it down.

"It’s to try & cover themselves when he leaves for free. Again it’s something the club/fans don’t need with a huge game coming up."

It's understood that Alexander-Arnold has not given Liverpool any indication that he is planning to leave at the end of the season and move to Spain, although there is still no agreement on a new deal between he and the club.

Alexander-Arnold recently said that he wouldn't allow talks over his future to play out in public - and Liverpool boss, Arne Slot, insists he has no problems with his defender amid the constant speculation surrounding him and Real Madrid.

Speaking after the recent 5-0 thrashing of West Ham, Slot said: “He’s playing really well, scored a great goal and the way he celebrated his goal probably tells you enough, so I don’t think I have to say much more about it.

“I’m really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo and With Virgil, so for me there’s no difference. For the outside world, maybe there’s a bit more things happening around Trent in the media than with the other two, but yeah, I’m happy with all three of them at the moment.”