Trent Alexander-Arnold admission fuels Liverpool exit links as Real Madrid eye reunion with fan favourite

The January transfer window can often have a profound effect on how the Premier League table pans out - and for Liverpool in particular it could prove to be a season defining month as the Reds chase their first league title since 2020.

Arne Slot has had a tremendous start to life at Anfield and as it stands his team are the leading contenders to dethrone Manchester City.

The Dutchman has made few changes in terms of personnel since arriving from Feyenoord and has instead simply opted to tweak the team’s style of play to a slightly more possession-oriented system, as opposed to the heavy metal style of football that had been associated with his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

However, despite good results, the elephant in the room in recent months has been the contract situation surrounding three of the team’s most important stars in captain Virgil Van Dijk, talismanic forward Mohamed Salah and local hero Trent Alexander Arnold.

All three are due to leave the club in the summer unless new terms are agreed, and as it stands, Alexander-Arnold in particular is the subject of interest from a number of top clubs including Spanish champions Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has racked up 321 first team appearances for his boyhood club since progressing through the academy and is a catalyst for the team’s offensive play with an incredible 19 goals and 83 assists despite primarily playing as a right-back.

He recently told Sky Sports that he would rather win the Ballon d’Or than the World Cup or another Champions League.

“Winning a World Cup with England - that would be immense and change the game, but I’d say a Ballon d’Or because I believe I can. I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.” Alexander-Arnold said.

This admission is concerning in the eyes of Jamie Carragher. He told Sky Sports: “He can try and win the Ballon d’Or, there’s nothing wrong with ambition, but my first thought when I read that was ‘you’re not winning the Ballon d’Or as a right-back for Liverpool.

“Ballon d’Or winners normally play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. That’s where the best players in the world go.”

Football Insider understands that Real Madrid have a strong chance of moving for Alexander-Arnold and understand the academy graduate is not expected to sign a new deal at Anfield. Liverpool’s desire remains for the defender to commit his long-term future, but from January he will be able to start communicating with foreign teams to thrash out personal details.

This has led to further reports suggesting that Liverpool may look to cut their losses and sell the full-back for a fee in January to avoid losing him on a free transfer. Real Madrid are the main contenders to sign the Liverpudlian, but Fichajes also understands that Paris Saint-Germain are considering a rival move to try and boost their hopes of lifting a first ever Champions League title.

3AM verdict: Trent Alexander-Arnold is amongst the most important players in Liverpool’s recent history and will play a vital role in the landscape of this season’s title race and Arne Slot’s first year at Anfield. Slot must do everything he can to tie the full-back down to a new deal to avoid losing one of his prized assets on a free - or even for a cut-price fee in January.

Losing Alexander-Arnold before January would derail Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title and damage the club’s chances of attracting the very best players in years to come.

Real Madrid eye reunion with former fan favourite

Real Madrid’s 43-match unbeaten league run came to an end in dramatic circumstances as the champions were hammered 4-0 by rivals Barcelona in front of their own supporters.

The defeat leaves the capital club six points adrift of leaders Barcelona in this season’s title race. The holders have already tasted defeat to Lille in the Champions League and have been underwhelming in draws to Las Palmas, Real Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.

Spanish outlet Sport understands that the club’s hierarchy are concerned with the dip in form under Carlo Ancelotti and are laying the groundwork to replace the Italian with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.

Alonso is remembered fondly from his time in the Spanish capital as a player from 2009 to 2014 where he notably made 158 league appearances. The 42-year-old is viewed as one of the world’s best up and coming managers after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga season while also winning the league and cup double last term.

3AM Verdict: Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best managers of the modern era and someone who deserves time to turn things around in the Spanish capital after a minor blip this season. However, should Real Madrid opt for a change in the summer there are few managers more well qualified to take the reins then Xabi Alonso, who already in his young managerial career has ended Bayern Munich’s eleven-year dominance over the league while also becoming the first manager in Bundesliga history to finish an entire season unbeaten.

He already commands the respect of the Real Madrid fan base from his time as a player and his teams are known for playing an exciting front-foot brand of football.