Real Madrid have confirmed their January transfer plans after Trent Alexander-Arnold was urged to quit Liverpool.
The Spanish giants have long been linked with a move for the Reds defender as he approaches the final six months of his contract. It was previously claimed that a deal is all-but done that would see him move to the Bernabeu on a free transfer.
An announcement was reportedly set to be delayed until the end of the campaign out of respect to Liverpool, while the England defender was not keen to quit his boyhood club mid-season. But it now appears that Alexander-Arnold’s future has taken a fresh turn.
According to Marca, the right-back is Madrid’s first-choice target heading into the January transfer window. The Spanish side are desperate to add a new defender to their squad after Dani Carvajal ’s injury.
And while Real are optimistic over their chances of signing him, a summer move looks more likely and they have planned on signing an alternative should a deal prove impossible. Tottenham’s Pedro Pedro has been identified as a potential signing.
The fresh development around Alexander-Arnold's future comes at the same time that Gary Lineker has urged him to pursue a move to Real Madrid. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, the former England star said: "It seems to make a lot of sense to me. Free transfer is how Real Madrid have done things recently.
“He is really close to Jude Bellingham and would fit in there beautifully. He would be a massive success. They wouldn’t focus on his defending critically as we do here – overly in my opinion.
“It’s a great fit and would be a huge loss for Liverpool, but they have a youngster coming through [Conor Bradley] who has done really well. I think it is highly likely that will happen, although I have no inside information whatsoever.”
Lineker added: "How do you say no to Real Madrid? Liverpool is an incredible football club, but a fresh challenge, playing abroad, I did it myself.
"Playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona is truly special. However strong and powerful and rich the Premier League is, the world ’s greats still go to Barcelona and Real Madrid. The only exception in recent times is [Erling] Haaland.
“That aside, they go there. He [Alexander-Arnold] will love it there. It will be amazing. They’ll worship and appreciate his passing range. He is in the prime of his career. I wouldn’t begrudge him."