Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is '99% done' | OneFootball

Real Madrid are pushing ahead with their plans to strengthen and rebuild ahead of 2025/26 and a deal for Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is reported to be all but complete.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season and, having recently entered the final six months of that deal, is already able to formally negotiate and potentially sign a pre-contract with any overseas club.

Madrid have been pursuing Alexander-Arnold for some time and are believed to have previously failed with an opportunistic lowball approach to Liverpool in January.

What AS describes as Madrid's "facelift operation" focuses on Alexander-Arnold, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen.

For the England right-back, it is claimed that "not a single detail remains" in terms of agreeing the proposed contract with Madrid. Only his signature on the paperwork is required, leading the Spanish publication to label the deal "99% done".

A late change of heart from Alexander-Arnold is all that could derail Real Madrid landing another huge free agent deal – after Kylian Mbappe in 2024. But no problems in that respect are expected.

AS claims that Alexander Arnold only needs to sign the contract / Franco Arland/GettyImages

Of the three Liverpool superstars out of contract this summer, alongside Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold has always seemed more willing to move on. The 26-year-old is at a very different stage of his career to the pair of veterans, at a major career crossroads where he is presented a choice of continuing with Liverpool or accepting a new challenge at his peak years.

Alexander-Arnold would ultimately be the long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal, who is not that far off a return from an ACL injury suffered in October but will turn 34 at his next birthday.

The increasingly likely capture of Alexander-Arnold also wouldn't necessarily push Lucas Vazquez out of the door. The former winger, turned right-back, is 34 in but retains loyalty from the club and, even with playing time likely to fall significantly, the possibility of renewing his contract isn't closed off.

The other thing for Alexander-Arnold is that leaving Liverpool will be the end of his beloved No 66 shirt, the youth team digits that he has never relinquished despite being an established first-team player at Anfield since 2018. La Liga rules dictate that registered first-team players in Spain's top flight must wear shirts numbered 1-25, with 1, 13 and 25 reserved for goalkeepers.