Real Madrid are increasingly confident of signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, talkSPORT understands.
Spanish sources have claimed Alexander-Arnold has verbally agreed to the move, although he is yet to communicate to Liverpool that he has made a definitive decision over his future.
The Premier League leaders are aware there is a strong possibility he decides to move to the Spanish giants when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The England international has a new deal offer on the table from Liverpool along with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are also due to become free agents this summer.
Real approached Liverpool about buying Alexander-Arnold in January last month, but were told he is not for sale and that stance has not changed.
Salah has an eye-watering £175m-a-year offer from Saudi Arabia and has publicly said he is ‘more out than in’ with regards to extending his stay at Anfield.
As of January 1, Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk can all negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs.
Alexander-Arnold has had a decorated career, and despite being just 26, the Merseyside man has won almost everything there is to win at the club.
With ex-manager Jurgen Klopp, Alexander-Arnold was a key component in a team that won the Champions League in 2019 and a Premier League title in 2020. He’s also won an FA Cup and League Cup with the side.
The defender came through the Liverpool academy and made his debut in 2016, establishing himself as one of the best right-backs in world football.
He has since made 245 Premier League appearances for the club, registering 62 assists and scoring 16 goals.
Addressing the speculation, manager Arne Slot recently said: “I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here.
“I see him on the training ground, working every day. He is fully committed to us.”
The defender has come under fire in recent weeks, particularly after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Man United which saw him put him an underwhelming performance.
Despite Alexander-Arnold’s hero status at Anfield, fans have been left frustrated by his decision to seemingly run down his contract and leave for free, creating a season-long transfer saga while Slot’s men are favourites to win the Premier League title.
One caller on talkSPORT recently said the England defender will be considered a ‘rat’ if he leaves.
“He’s a Liverpool boy. Why does he want to go to Real Madrid when he can win everything with Liverpool like he already has?” Lee questioned.
“He said he wants to be captain of Liverpool and be like Steven Gerrard. If he goes, he’ll be hated in my eyes.
“I’d rather have a statue outside than go to Madrid for four years when you can’t even speak the language just to say he went to Madrid. He’s a rat.”