Real Madrid are reportedly angry about one detail of their chase of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and are now considering a ‘Plan B’.
Liverpool fans are broadly up in arms over unresolved contracts for Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. All three are seen as vital to the future of the club and the longer it drags on, the more fans grow fearful they will all leave.
That would be catastrophic and so many are holding onto hope they will all stay.
In the case of Alexander-Arnold, there appears to be a healthy amount of flirting going on with Real Madrid but until a contract is signed with the Spanish giants or Liverpool, anything could happen.
And so it will be heartening for Liverpool fans to hear that Real Madrid are considering a ‘Plan B’ in their search for a top-class long-term successor to Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid grow angry with Trent as Liverpool offered contract lifeline
A report from SkySport.ch suggests that “Trent Alexander-Arnold file is not sealed yet” with Real Madrid angered by the “slowdown in discussions” with the Scouser’s representatives.
As a result, Los Blancos has made contact with Joshua Kimmich’s entourage but there is a chance it’s merely a negotiation ploy to force Alexander-Arnold’s hand.
Kimmich is seen as a real transfer target but Alexander-Arnold is Real Madrid’s undisputed no.1 target to fill the right-back role at the Santiago Bernabeu for the years to come.
His Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season and if an agreement cannot be reached with the Reds, he will almost certainly move to Spain to join England teammate and close friend Jude Bellingham.
As for Kimmich, the Bayern Munich star would prefer to move to Real Madrid than to sign another contract with the Bavarian outfit.
Liverpool fans should direct their ire at FSG, not Trent Alexander-Arnold
This may be an unpopular opinion but FSG are to blame for the current contract situation Trent Alexander-Arnold finds himself in. They left it too long to start renewal talks and are rightly under pressure in negotiations.
Trent is the best right-back on the planet and so will feel justified in demanding what he’s worth in the modern game.
If he leaves for free, however, he will still have to answer to fans who believe a homegrown talent should not leave his childhood club without earning a transfer fee.