Trent Alexander-Arnold faces Real Madrid 'revolution' as Jose Mourinho plots overhaul

Trent Alexander-Arnold could be at the heart of Real Madrid's sweeping changes as Jose Mourinho prepares to take charge following a trophyless season for Los Blancos

Former Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold could find himself at the heart of sweeping changes at Real Madrid following a catastrophic season for Los Blancos. The Spanish giants are in turmoil by their lofty standards after enduring two consecutive trophy-less campaigns.

The La Liga outfit kicked off the season with ex-Real and Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso at the helm as they sought to transform their playing style. However, the Spaniard struggled to communicate his vision to a dressing room used to far greater freedom both on and off the field.

Alonso was duly dismissed in January before taking the Chelsea job this summer, despite being linked with the Liverpool vacancy. And his replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu, another former Real player in Alvaro Arbeloa, also proved unable to extract a performance from Madrid's galaxy of stars.

Real finished the season eight points adrift of champions Barcelona after exiting the Champions League quarter-finals to Bayern Munich and being knocked out of the Spanish Cup by lower-league outfit Albacete.

Real's dismal campaign ultimately sealed Arbeloa's fate, with former manager Jose Mourinho poised to return. Now, Spanish publication Marca claim that club president Florentino Perez is plotting wholesale changes.

They report Real have been working on a major squad overhaul for some time, which will involve "at least five changes" to the team. In what could prove to be a worrying development for full-back Alexander-Arnold, it is reported that the club intends to overhaul both their defence and midfield.

The claims follow the exits of Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, with Alexander-Arnold, 27, now expected to battle for a starting spot alongside Denzel Dumfries, who appears to be heading to the Bernabeu from Inter Milan.

The Liverpool academy product found himself competing with their captain after his arrival last summer, though he eventually cemented his place in the first-team line-up.

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Alexander-Arnold himself admitted that settling in required some patience, in an Instagram post shared at the end of his debut season. Its caption reads: "Madridistas, you have welcomed me with open arms.

"From the first day I arrived, you have had my back. It took me a few months to find rhythm and settle in the new environment, but I feel completely at home now.

"I will take a good break and put the work in over the summer. I promise we will bring trophies back to this amazing club next season!"

The versatile defender will also be hoping to avoid the injury troubles that blighted his first campaign at the club, having suffered two significant setbacks throughout. Alexander-Arnold made 30 appearances across all competitions.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate is poised to put pen to paper at Madrid. The Frenchman departed Anfield this summer after failing to reach an agreement on a new deal with the Reds.