'Understand': Journalist explains how Alexander-Arnold really feels about a mid-season exit to Real Madrid
01/01/2025 04:30 AM
Twelve midnight did not just signal a new year around the world on Wednesday, it also brought the opening of the January transfer window.
For Liverpool, the first month of 2025 looks set to be an interesting one, as they come under further pressure with their unresolved contract issues.
The trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah can now freely speak to non-British clubs about joining them in the summer.
While that will rightly spread nerves throughout the fanbase, those worries were amplified on Tuesday, as Real Madrid made an early move to get Alexander-Arnold out of Anfield.
It was a bold ploy from Real, who are seemingly keen to take the Liverpool academy graduate at the nearest opportunity.
But while Liverpool rejected the approach out of hand, journalist Ben Jacobs has explained how Alexander-Arnold himself feels about jumping ship from the Reds in January.
Trent Alexander-Arnold not pushing for January exit
It was a real surprise to hear that Real Madrid had spoken to Liverpool about the possibility of signing Trent in the New Year.
Throughout this saga, it has always been reported that Alexander-Arnold would not be leaving in January.
For Real to make a soft attempt even before the window opened showed that they do mean business in going against that grain.
According to Jacobs, though, Trent himself has ‘no interest’ in leaving Liverpool before the end of the season.
“Not just Liverpool who won't sell Trent Alexander-Arnold in January,” the journalist says on X.
“Understand Alexander-Arnold has no interest in a mid-season exit regardless of whether he extends or not.”
Liverpool need honest answer from Alexander-Arnold
While you can understand why Alexander-Arnold would want to wait until the end of the season to leave Liverpool, it should not be completely up to the right-back.
For now, it seems that the Reds are still trying to convince Trent that his future lies with his boyhood club.
However, Madrid’s approach would suggest that they have had encouragement from the player himself that he’s keen to go to Spain instead.
Although keeping Alexander-Arnold may be better for Liverpool on the pitch, it also does not help them to have a player who’s head is already elsewhere.
As a result, the Reds need an honest answer from Trent about where he wants to play. If the answer to that is Real Madrid, then they should open talks with the European champions about a January move. Otherwise things may quickly turn toxic for the No.66.
