Real Madrid set alarm bells ringing in the Liverpool fanbase when they made an approach for Trent Alexander-Arnold on New Year’s Eve. While it was rejected by the Reds, who have no interest in selling their vice-captain mid-season, the La Liga giants have signalled their intent.

The England international is out of contract at the end of the season, with his future the subject of intense speculation as a result. Reports in Spain have made it clear that Real Madrid are growing increasingly confident that they will sign the defender on a Bosman transfer in the summer.

The ECHO understands that as things stand, the player has not communicated to the Reds that he has chosen to join Real Madrid, despite reports in Spain suggesting otherwise.

READ MORE: Arne Slot refuses to guarantee Trent Alexander-Arnold will be at Liverpool beyond January

READ MORE: Arne Slot responds to Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold bid after conversation with Liverpool man

But that has not stopped onlookers from assuming that Alexander-Arnold is now destined to join the reigning European champions, with former Liverpool stars Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen just two of a plethora of pundits to fear the worst for the Reds following Real Madrid’s approach.

After all, it is very rare for the La Liga giants to not get their man when they firm up interest, with Real Madrid making a habit of completing big-name Bosman transfers in recent years. Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba have all joined the Spanish outfit after allowing their contracts to expire, while Carlo Ancelotti’s side are also said to be interested in signing Alphonso Davies on a free transfer as well as Alexander-Arnold.

But following their failed mid-season approach for his vice-captain, Reds head coach Arne Slot has debunked suggestions that Real Madrid always get their man - using Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to prove his point.

“I think there was one player (Gerrard) they would have really loved to have but he didn’t come,” he pointed out. “You know him better than me. So it has happened.”

Meanwhile, Slot would also reiterate that the transfer speculation regarding Alexander-Arnold - as well Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk who are also both out of contract next summer - is not a distraction as his side look to maintain their Premier League title lead.

“These are all ‘if, if if.’ My answer is that he’s with us and his full focus is with us,” he said of the defender. “This is what you saw in the West Ham game and the games before.

“He’s in almost everyone’s team of the year for the first-half of the season. That shows how much he’s here at the moment. That’s the only answer I can give you at the moment because there’s no if.

“For me, there’s no distraction at all and I don’t see any distraction with Trent as well. If you simply look at his performances and how he trains. I see him train every day and not getting distracted at all.

“It’s the same with Virgil and Mo and all the others because if you play at a club like this, every player is probably in the interest of someone. That’s part of football and that’s why we’re not distracted by it.”