Real Madrid line up second bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold | OneFootball

Real Madrid have not been disheartened in their pursuit of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and are mulling over a second bid for the defender, according to multiple reports.

Alexander-Arnold, much like his Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, will be out of contract at the end of June 2025. Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the 26-year-old, but had been expected to wait until he became a free agent in the summer before snapping up the highly rated defender.

However, on the first day of the January transfer window, news broke that Real Madrid approached Liverpool regarding a winter move for Alexander-Arnold. The initial discussions were quickly quashed by the Premier League leaders, but that resolve could be tested by another bid.

The Times claim that Real Madrid would be willing to part ways with as much as £20m to secure a player who would not command a transfer fee in six months. Spanish publication AS suggest that the La Liga champions won't venture beyond £12.4m (€15m). Both reports agree that manager Carlo Ancelotti is the driving force behind an accelerated deal for the full-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) has come up against Real Madrid in the Champions League / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

Real Madrid lost first-choice right-back Dani Carvajal to a season-ending ACL injury in October. The veteran former winger Lucas Vazquez has been thrust into the starting XI as an awkward replacement. Even midfielder Federico Valverde has been cautiously shoehorned into the backline.

The European champions are also without centre-back Eder Militao for the remainder of the campaign and are still waiting for David Alaba's much-trailed return.

Madrid's needs will be of no concern to Liverpool. The Reds have their own ambitions of domestic and continental success this term after a brilliant start to the campaign under Arne Slot. The Merseyside outfit are still negotiating with Alexander-Arnold about a new contract but even if they are consigned to losing him, there is very little chance that it will be this month.