Liverpool are supposedly willing to let Trent Alexander-Arnold join Real Madrid before the end of his contract if two conditions are met.
Over the past couple of weeks, Alexander-Arnold’s winner against Leicester City and second Premier League title triumph has led to renewed hope that he could perform a drastic U-turn and sign a new agreement at Anfield.
However, a fresh contract does not appear to be forthcoming, and the 26-year-old is still widely expected to jump ship for the Bernabeu on a free transfer when the campaign draws to a close.
While Liverpool’s season ends later this month, Alexander-Arnold’s deal with the Premier League champions runs until the end of June, meaning that he would ordinarily not be available for the start of Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign.
Carlo Ancelotti‘s side will have completed their three group-stage matches by June 26, before the round of 16 takes place between June 28 and July 1, and Los Blancos are reportedly hoping to integrate Alexander-Arnold into their ranks in time for the beginning of the tournament.
Liverpool will ‘consider’ early Trent exit on two conditions
© Imago
According to Spanish outlet AS, Liverpool will sever Alexander-Arnold from the last few weeks of his contract and let him join Real Madrid a couple of weeks early if two criteria are met.
Firstly, the Reds have demanded that the England international personally submit a request to leave the club before June 30, and at the same time give up his rumoured £1m salary for next month.
Secondly, Real Madrid would have to pay Liverpool a small compensation fee as opposed to getting Alexander-Arnold for free, but the Spanish giants would only need to fork out between £1.2m and £1.7m.
Los Blancos would have no qualms about paying that nominal amount to have Alexander-Arnold in their ranks for the Club World Cup, where they will meet Al-Hilal (June 18), Pachuca (June 22) and Red Bull Salzburg (June 26) in the group stage.
The Liverpool academy graduate will depart Anfield having won nine major honours with the Reds, whom he has now registered 23 goals and 92 assists in 351 matches for across all competitions.
Arne Slot laughs off latest Alexander-Arnold contract question
© Imago
Managers can never know every exact question that will be put to them in press conferences, but for as long as Alexander-Arnold has not signed on the dotted line, Arne Slot will be pressed on the matter each week.
Even after leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title last weekend, the Dutchman had to bat away another question about the right-back’s future on Friday, although he adopted a light-hearted demeanour when doing so.
“Four weeks to go!” he replied. “If there’s any news on that, I wouldn’t say you will be the first one to know, but the people in front of me will probably hear it all together. As long as there’s no news from us, this is not the place to talk about his situation.”
Alexander-Arnold is expected to retain his place in the first XI when Liverpool travel to Chelsea for Sunday’s Premier League showdown, even though Conor Bradley could return from a knock in time to make the squad.
As the Reds prepare to wave goodbye to the Englishman, they are reportedly planning to start contract talks with a key attacker to ensure that a repeat of the Alexander-Arnold situation does not materialise.
