Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid transfer Q&A: 'Trent's in a strong negotiating position'

Sky Sports activities Information senior reporter Melissa Reddy supplies an replace on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future, answering all the important thing questions.

The saga took one other twist on New 12 months’s Eve when Liverpool turned down an method for Alexander-Arnold from Actual Madrid.

There was no formal provide however an method was made by the Spanish facet.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract on the finish of the season and stories in Spain have stated the 26-year-old has knowledgeable Liverpool he needs to play for Madrid.

Reddy, who interviewed Alexander-Arnold in December, breaks down what this newest improvement means…

What does this newest improvement inform us about the place each golf equipment and the participant stand forward of the summer season?

Melissa says: For Actual Madrid, it exhibits us unequivocally that Alexander-Arnold is their prime full-back goal for the summer season, a lot in order that they do not wish to wait till then and can be keen to pay upwards of £20m to get the right-back upfront of his free company.

They would not have made an method to Liverpool to get him on this window if there wasn’t encouragement from the participant’s finish – nevertheless it’s vital to underline right here that does not imply Alexander-Arnold needs to go away Liverpool this month. He’s in the course of a negotiation, and it advantages him to have Actual present their hand, to have Liverpool combat for him, for his boyhood membership to know Actual’s intentions and make him a suggestion value contemplating.

He’s in an extremely robust place by way of the negotiation.

Liverpool have been by no means going to countenance Alexander-Arnold’s exit this month given their league and Champions League ambitions. They have not conceded defeat in preserving him and signing him to a brand new deal – and so they will not till he communicates that he needs to go away for Madrid. Till now, that has not been stated.

Alexander-Arnold can now maintain formal talks with Actual Madrid. Does that change something?

Melissa says: It would not change an excessive amount of within the sense that casual talks occur on a regular basis in fashionable transfers and each celebration will already know the parameters of getting a deal over the road. What it does have an effect on is how loud, open and forceful Actual can now be about their pursuit of Trent, which will not be nice for Liverpool or their supporters. Be braced for an overdrive – particularly from the newspapers in Madrid.

Is there any hazard that this case with Trent can destabilise Liverpool’s title cost?

Melissa says: Contract conditions – particularly his with Actual set to push of their aggressive, charm-offensive approach – is the awkward cloud hanging over an imperious Liverpool, however I do not suppose it will knock them off stride due to the professionalism of the gamers and their relationships with Arne Slot which may be very robust – I interviewed Trent two weeks in the past and he spelt out how a lot he enjoys the extent of element Slot supplies and the tweaks made to his recreation.

The ambition to win silverware this season will take priority for all of them.

We have seen Actual Madrid make a transfer, are you able to see different golf equipment making strikes this month for Liverpool’s different out of contract gamers, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah?

Melissa says: We’re speaking concerning the world’s finest participant on present type in Mohamed Salah and the most effective centre-back in Virgil van Dijk so it could be a shock if no elite facet tried to entice them.

However I feel they’ve each made it so clear they wish to keep at Anfield, and the market is constricted so the golf equipment that might ordinarily afford them and permit them to compete on the highest degree do not have the monetary muscle within the present local weather to promote them an alternate to Liverpool.

Each gamers stroll into the beginning line-up of each prime crew, no matter who’s stationed of their place – it isn’t about their expertise, however simply the state of market forces.