Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out of contract with Liverpool next summer, and Real Madrid is reportedly keeping an eye on his situation.
Liverpool might face a challenging scenario when their Champions League fixtures are announced on Saturday. Following Thursday’s draw, which revealed their eight group stage opponents, Liverpool will have tough matches against Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield, along with a visit to AC Milan.
They will also host Lille and Bologna, while their away games include fixtures against RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven, and Girona. With the Champions League now featuring 36 teams, the final two group stage matches are scheduled for the end of January.
This timing could complicate matters for Liverpool, as speculation about the futures of key players continues. Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah will all be out of contract next summer and can sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs starting in January.
All three have been linked with Real Madrid, but Alexander-Arnold is reportedly of particular interest to the Spanish giants. If Liverpool’s match against Real Madrid is scheduled for late January, the La Liga club could potentially negotiate with Alexander-Arnold before their visit to Anfield.
This could mean that Alexander-Arnold might even have agreed terms with Real Madrid by the time they meet, or a discussion could take place during the match.
Given that Alexander-Arnold has previously lost two Champions League finals to Real Madrid and faced elimination by them on two other occasions, an encounter with the Spanish side could be emotionally charged.
This might influence his decision about his future and which club might offer the best chances for future success. While there is no current indication that Alexander-Arnold is seeking a move, and he has expressed a desire to keep discussions about his future private.
The ongoing speculation and uncertainty surrounding his contract status could become a distraction for Liverpool. The focus on the futures of Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Salah will intensify once the transfer window closes, as they will be able to sign Bosman transfers from January 1.
Both Van Dijk and Salah have avoided discussing their futures recently, and Alexander-Arnold has not addressed the topic at all since Liverpool’s opening Premier League win.
Real Madrid’s potential visit to Anfield in January could highlight the need for Liverpool to resolve Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation sooner rather than later to avoid further distractions.
