Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly set two conditions for Liverpool in order to reject a potential move to Real Madrid this summer.
With his contract expiring in the summer, the 26-year-old’s future has become a hot topic in the January transfer window. On New Year’s Eve, Paul Joyce from The Times revealed that Liverpool had rejected a £20 million offer from Real Madrid, who are keen to secure his signature before the summer.
This bid is far below what Liverpool would expect for a player still under a long-term contract, but it highlights Real Madrid’s strong interest in completing the deal early, even though they could sign him for free in a few months.
In December, The Liverpool Echo reported that Alexander-Arnold had not shown a desire to leave Anfield, and Liverpool is still working to convince him to stay.
Ben Jacobs added that Alexander-Arnold has laid out two requirements for agreeing to a new contract: a minimum three-year extension and the eventual captaincy of the club.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jacobs noted, “Trent isn’t open to a mid-season move, but what he wants in return for an extension is a deal lasting at least three years, and to eventually become the club’s captain.”
It’s worth considering if discussions surrounding Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are linked. If Trent is promised the captaincy, it could influence Van Dijk’s future. One source pointed out, “At the moment, Liverpool is more optimistic about Van Dijk and Salah staying, while Alexander-Arnold’s situation remains unclear.”
SPORTbible has reached out to Alexander-Arnold’s representatives for comment.
The Athletic reported last month that Liverpool had offered new contracts to Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah, all of whom are nearing the end of their current deals.
However, after Liverpool’s 5-0 victory over West Ham, Salah, who leads the Premier League with 17 goals and 13 assists, was non-committal about his future. He told Sky Sports, “We are far from agreeing on a new contract. But I don’t want to make any comments that will spark rumors. Nothing has really changed, and I’m focused on the team.”
Van Dijk has also avoided discussing his contract situation, although David Ornstein reports that the general feeling at Anfield is that both Van Dijk and Salah will eventually sign new deals.
