Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract saga took a new twist on the final day of 2024 as Real Madrid made an approach to sign the Liverpool defender in January.

The right-back's current contract at Anfield is due to expire at the end of the season and he is now free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs ahead of a possible summer departure.

Madrid approached Liverpool about the possibility of signing Alexander-Arnold in January but the Spanish club's attempt was quickly rebuffed, with the Reds making their stance clear before any financial figures were even mentioned.

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Two former Liverpool players, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen, took to social media to react to the news, suggesting that Alexander-Arnold must have indicated his desire to join Madrid for the La Liga giant to have made an approach to the Reds.

“The most important thing for @LFC in 2025 is winning the Premier League," Carragher wrote. "No one’s contract or future should come in the way of that! I love Trent as a lad & a player, but his team would’ve told Real Madrid to bid & also would’ve known LFC would turn it down. It’s to try & cover themselves when he leaves for free. Again it’s something the club/fans don’t need with a huge game coming up.”

Owen, meanwhile, wrote: “The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander Arnold leads me to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he signs for them. If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news.”

Alexander-Arnold's apparent involvement in Madrid's approach riled up a lot of Liverpool fans on social media, with many telling Arne Slot to take the vice-captaincy off him.

Alexander-Arnold appeared to respond to the recent talk about his future with his goal celebration against West Ham, as he made a talking gesture to his ear with his right hand.

The reality is, though, Alexander-Arnold has done little to stem the tide of reports linking him with a move to Madrid, and the general consensus seems to be that he is more likely to leave Liverpool next summer than either Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk, who are both in the same situation as the right-back.

The 26-year-old said in September that he had no intention of letting his talks with Liverpool play out in public, but his silence has been amplified by both Salah and Van Dijk, who have effectively said that they want to stay with the Reds.