Real Madrid monitoring Trent Alexander-Arnold; Reece James not a realistic target
Real Madrid are monitoring Trent Alexander-Arnold’s situation at Liverpool as he approaches the final 12 months of his contract, 90min understands.
Alexander-Arnold, 25, is yet to pen fresh terms over a new contract with Liverpool, whose priority over the past few months has been to establish a new sporting hierarchy and appoint a manager following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down from his post at the end of the season.
Michael Edwards has returned to Fenway Sports Group as CEO of Football, a role which will see him handed a significant say in day-to-day operations at Liverpool, while Richard Hughes will become the new sporting director this summer. But the search for a new manager goes on after Xabi Alonso announced he will not leave Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.
Not knowing the identity of the next manager is understood to be one of the main causes for delay with Alexander-Arnold’s contract talks, with the right-back keen to understand what any new manager has planned for him, including which position he’ll play in.
Importantly, there are no tensions between Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool. Both parties have been open with their situations and are believed to be understanding of the other, with contract talks set to advance once Liverpool have identified a new manager.
However, with Alexander-Arnold not yet guaranteed to remain with Liverpool, Real Madrid have stepped up their interest in the situation. Seen as a top talent who could feasibly be available for a bargain fee if talks with Liverpool break down, Alexander-Arnold’s situation is naturally of interest to a number of elite sides.
Madrid would happily make a move to sign Alexander-Arnold if he became available but there is an awareness from the Spanish side that Liverpool retain full control over the situation.
Alexander-Arnold is happy at Liverpool and the club are not planning to part ways with the right-back whatsoever, but an agreement over an extension will not be reached until he is satisfied with the vision of the new manager.
Madrid’s interest in Alexander-Arnold comes after longstanding reports of a desire to sign Chelsea’s Reece James instead.
90min understands that Madrid are well aware of James, as they are with any high-level player, but a move for the Chelsea captain has never been seen as viable for a number of reasons.
James has never entertained a move away from Chelsea. He remains fully committed and taking on the club captaincy is one example of that. Meanwhile, the Blues would likely not even put a price on James – even an offer in excess of £100m would likely be rejected without hesitation despite Chelsea’s desire to sell a series of players this summer. James simply isn’t for sale this summer.
While accepted to be among the world’s elite when on form, James has struggled with injuries in recent years and Madrid would need more confidence over his fitness and form before even humouring the idea of paying a big fee and it is not something they are considering right now.