ESPN’s Alex Kirkland looks at whether Real Madrid could make a January move for Trent Alexander-Arnold happen:
Real Madrid need a right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the world’s best, and he’s out of contract at Liverpool next summer. Of course Madrid are interested. The question is: has Trent definitively decided not to extend at Anfield? And if so, is there any chance of getting a deal done in January?
Madrid’s needs are urgent. First-choice right-back Dani Carvajal is out for the season — and anyway, he’s not getting any younger at 32 — and back-up Lucas Vazquez isn’t reliable enough. Midfielder Federico Valverde filled in against Leganés on Sunday, and might do the same in Wednesday’s Champions League game.
ESPN has reported that Alexander-Arnold is Madrid’s No. 1 target in the position, but that was originally with an eye to a free transfer next summer, a formula the club used to bring in stars like Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba, and hope to repeat with Bayern’s Alphonso Davies, too. Their defensive injury crisis has brought matters to a head, but there are serious doubts about whether title-chasing Liverpool would be willing to let Alexander-Arnold leave in the upcoming transfer window, even if it meant securing a transfer fee.
Alexander-Arnold is a very different kind of right-back to Carvajal, but that’s no bad thing. Carvajal may be 32, but remains an important player in the dressing room, and there’d presumably be some overlap between the two players for a season or two. That would allow coach Carlo Ancelotti — or his successor — to alternate, depending on the opposition. And Trent’s range of passing, line-breaking ability and set-piece prowess would go some way to helping make up for the loss of Toni Kroos last summer, too.
OTHER RUMORS
– Manchester United sent scouts to watch Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres, Geovany Quenda and Pedro Gonçalves as Amorim’s former club took on Arsenal on Tuesday night. (Daily Mail)
– Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel is on the radar of VfB Stuttgart, who are exploring a potential loan move for the 19-year-old in January. (Florian Plettenberg)
– Multiple clubs in Europe including Liverpool, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur are tracking Ajax defender Devyne Rensch. (Ekrem Konur)
– Barcelona, Tottenham, Roma, Napoli & Bayer Leverkusen are all interested in Rayo Vallecano right-back Andrei Ratiu. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Brighton & Hove Albion could loan out Paraguay international attacking midfielder Julio Enciso, with all seven of his appearances so far this season coming from the bench. (BBC Sport)
– Former Manchester United assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is ahead of Graham Potter and David Moyes in the running to be appointed Leicester City’s new manager. (Football Insider)
