Liverpool rejected the offer of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Actual Madrid.
There was no formal offer but there was an approach from Spain.
Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season and reports in Spain say the 26-year-old has informed Liverpool that he wants to play for Madrid.
Actual Madrid is now free to speak directly with Alexander-Arnold about a pre-contract.
But Liverpool, it seems, have no interest in losing the player as they fight for the Premier League title.
Three of their main players, builders of Jurgen Klopp’s glory days, are out of contract this summer and yet they have remained almost flawless in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in talks over new deals, with all three out of contract in the summer.
talking to sky sports In December, Alexander-Arnold said: “I’ve been at the club for 20 years, I’ve signed four or five contract extensions and none of them have been revealed publicly, and this one won’t be either.”
Carragher: Alexander-Arnold’s decision is different from that of Salah or Van Dijk
sky sports Jamie Carragher believes Alexander-Arnold’s close links to Liverpool could complicate a transfer from Actual Madrid for the England international.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong, but I do think it’s a different situation than the other guys.
“Obviously he has to make a big decision. “I’m desperate for him to sign.” (a new deal). He’s a local player, I love seeing local players, whether it’s Liverpool or Everton, really flourish. He has been one of the best local players we have had in the city.
“I think the way Liverpool are playing now and what they look like they could do in the future looks really exciting. I’m desperate for him to sign. I hope it’s the same.
“I think that Actual Madrid and Barcelona have that attraction of players from all over the world. I think it is a dream for probably 90 percent of players around the world to play or finish at their final destination: Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“You see Mbappé and you see him with any player who is perhaps rated as the best player in the world. Somehow they end up playing for Actual Madrid or Barcelona.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley and Peter Smith discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid and why Conor Bradley could be his long-term replacement at Liverpool.
“I think the fact that he and Trent play for their native club, I think that makes it a little bit different. Different if Trent was playing for Chelsea or Arsenal, he wasn’t a London boy. I don’t think there was any doubt that he would make that move.
“I think the fact that he would leave his club, which he has been with since he was five or six years old. I think it’s more of a decision than simply being Actual Madrid. As I said, nine out of 10 times “When Actual Madrid wants to sign a player and that player wants to leave, that usually happens.”
Transfer Center LIVE! Offers, rumors, news on your phone
The January transfer window is OPEN!
Follow the latest offers, news and rumors about the ‘Transfers’ section of the Sky Sports app!
Looking for news about YOU Membership? Find dedicated transfer pages for ALL Premier League teams.
