Liverpool star is a 'priority' signing for Real Madrid next summer as contract set to expire

Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League, and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a major part of the club’s success, with his attacking playstyle creating space in both the centre of midfield and on the right wing.

But now, Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season, alongside winger Mo Salah, and is wanted by one of Europe’s biggest clubs. And from January, he will be free to speak to other teams about his future.

According to the Athletic, the 26-year-old will be Real Madrid’s top priority, especially given they won’t have to pay a penny to secure his services.

Speaking to ITV about his future while representing England last week, he said: “I’ve entered the prime of my career right now and I don’t want to be the player who only won trophies when he was young.”

At the moment, Real Madrid have Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez as options at right-back, with the Englishman almost certainly being an upgrade over both of them.

Liverpool and Manchester City to duke it out over Italian midfielder

One player who seems to be on everyone’s radar at the moment is Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella. The Inter Milan star, 27, has been consistently overperforming for the past few years, and now most top clubs want him on their books.

Amid ongoing interest from both Real and Atletico Madrid, two Premier League clubs have now joined the fray, according to Spanish publication Fichajes. Liverpool and Manchester City are both keen on the midfielder; statistically, he has even been outperforming Rodri as of late (prior to the Spaniard’s injury) and could be the January replacement that manager Pep Guardiola is looking for.

Barella has a contract with the Serie A giants until 2029, so whichever club does want to sign him will likely have to pay big bucks to get a deal over the line.